Obama to travel to Japan,S Korea,Malaysia,Philippines in April

, Feb 12: US President

will travel to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Philippines to strengthen ties with the Asian nations as India goes to polls around the same time. The visit in late April is part of Obama's ongoing commitment to increase American diplomatic, economic and security engagement with countries in the

-Pacific region, the White House said today.

"In Japan, the President will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to highlight the historic steps the US and Japan are taking to modernise our 54-year alliance, deepen our economic ties, including through the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and expand our cooperation on a range of diplomatic challenges in Asia and globally," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said.

The US president's tour will begin around the same time when India goes to polls

Obama will then travel to South Korea to reaffirm the US commitment to a strong alliance, review recent developments in North Korea and their combined efforts to promote denuclearisation, and discuss the ongoing implementation of the Korea-United States FTA, he said. In Malaysia, Obama will meet with Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia to showcase the substantial progress made in deepening diplomatic, economic, and defence ties with such an important partner in Southeast Asia, he added.

"The President will then travel to the Philippines, the fifth Asian treaty ally he will have visited during his presidency. He will meet with President Aquino to highlight our economic and security cooperation, including through the modernization of our defence alliance, efforts to expand economic ties and spark economic growth through the Partnership for Growth, and through our deep and enduring people-to-people ties," Carney said.

PTI