Obama calls for jobs creation forum

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The White House will host a jobs and economic growth forum to address job creation and spurring the U.S. economy, President Barack Obama said Thursday.

The economy is growing again "for the first time in more than a year," Obama said before embarking on his trip to Asia. "But even though we've slowed the loss of jobs, the economic growth that we've seen has not led to the job growth we so desperately need."

The forum would bring together chief executive officers, small business owners, economists, labor union leaders and non-profit representatives "to talk about how to create jobs and get this economy moving again," Obama said.

"It is important not to make ill-considered decisions -- even with the best of intentions -- particularly at a time when our resources are so limited," the president said. "It is just as important that we are open to any demonstrably good idea to supplement the steps we've taken to put (people) back to work."

Touching a bit on his trip to Asia, Obama said he would meet with foreign leaders to discuss a growth strategy that is balanced and shared and in which Asian and Pacific markets are open to U.S. exports.

Such a strategy also is "one in which prosperity around the world is no longer as dependent on American consumption and borrowing, but rather more on American innovation and products," Obama said.