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Nov 14, 2009
Obama at Apec early
Mr Obama, on his first Asia tour, made the schedule change so he could meet the other 20 regional leaders on Saturday evening ahead of Sunday's official summit talks, a White House official said. -- PHOTO: AP
TOKYO - US PRESIDENT Barack Obama will make a surprise early appearance at the Apec summit dinner in Singapore on Saturday, after bringing forward his departure from Japan, a US official said.
Mr Obama, on his first Asia tour, made the schedule change so he could meet the other 20 regional leaders on Saturday evening ahead of Sunday's official summit talks, a White House official said.
'We had built into the schedule a bit of extra time and some downtime, and the president decided very early this morning that he thought it was more important to get to Apec earlier and be part of the discussions tonight,' said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
The change of plans also appeared likely to rescue a hallowed tradition of Apec summits - the group photo of the 21 regional leaders in colourful, local costume.
Mr Obama's week-long tour of Asia earlier had to be compressed by a day after the president travelled to Texas to attend Tuesday's memorial service for the 13 victims of a shooting rampage at the Fort Hood military base.
In his Tokyo speech, Mr Obama hinted at the change, which did not force him to scrap any official engagements in Tokyo, saying about the Apec meet: 'I look forward to participating in that forum this evening.' -- AFP
Nov 14, 2009
Obama at Apec early
Mr Obama, on his first Asia tour, made the schedule change so he could meet the other 20 regional leaders on Saturday evening ahead of Sunday's official summit talks, a White House official said. -- PHOTO: AP
TOKYO - US PRESIDENT Barack Obama will make a surprise early appearance at the Apec summit dinner in Singapore on Saturday, after bringing forward his departure from Japan, a US official said.
Mr Obama, on his first Asia tour, made the schedule change so he could meet the other 20 regional leaders on Saturday evening ahead of Sunday's official summit talks, a White House official said.
'We had built into the schedule a bit of extra time and some downtime, and the president decided very early this morning that he thought it was more important to get to Apec earlier and be part of the discussions tonight,' said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
The change of plans also appeared likely to rescue a hallowed tradition of Apec summits - the group photo of the 21 regional leaders in colourful, local costume.
Mr Obama's week-long tour of Asia earlier had to be compressed by a day after the president travelled to Texas to attend Tuesday's memorial service for the 13 victims of a shooting rampage at the Fort Hood military base.
In his Tokyo speech, Mr Obama hinted at the change, which did not force him to scrap any official engagements in Tokyo, saying about the Apec meet: 'I look forward to participating in that forum this evening.' -- AFP
