Asia-Pacific

Obama delays visit to Indonesia, Australia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-13 01:28

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama, will delay his three-stop visit to Asia and Australia until March 21 to focus on the final push to rescue health care legislation, a senior official said Friday.

Obama delays visit to Indonesia, Australia

President Barack Obama addresses the Export-Import Bank's Annual Conference in Washington March 11, 2010. [Agencies]

Obama, who was scheduled to visit Guam, Indonesia and Australia from March 18-24, would instead visit from March 21-26 so that he can stay in Washington to push the contentious health care reforms, The Associated Press reported, citing a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the White House hadn't announced the delay.

In Indonesia, where Obama spent several years as a youngster, the president will launch a comprehensive partnership with the world's most populous Muslim country.

In Australia, Obama was expected to mark the 70th anniversary of U.S.-Australia relations and discuss mutual concerns, including nuclear nonproliferation, with Australian leaders. In the U.S. territory of Guam, the president will meet with military personnel.