President Obama's
Asia Trip
November 17-20, 2012

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Asia Trip 2012

Since taking office President Obama has focused on the importance of Asia Pacific to the future of the United States, both economically and in terms of our political and security objectives in the world. On this historic trip, his fifth to the region, President Obama will be making the first-ever visit by a U.S. President to Burma and Cambodia.

Foreign Policy and the Trip to Asia

  • Workers Prepare To Welcome President Obama

    Workers prepare for an arrival ceremony to welcome President Barack Obama. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Flowers To Be Presented To President Obama

    An official holds flowers to be presented to President Barack Obama. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Wat Pho Royal Monastery Tour

    President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton tour the Wat Pho Royal Monastery. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Wat Pho Royal Monastery Tour 2

    President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton tour the Wat Pho Royal Monastery. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Meeting With King Bhumibol Adulyadej

    President Obama, Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Kristie Kenney meet with King Bhumibol Adulyadej. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Prepares For Thailand Press Conference

    President Barack Obama prepares for a press conference at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Question Is Translated For Prime Minister Shinawatra

    President Obama and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra hold a press conference. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

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  • President Obama And Prime Minister Shinawatra Toast

    President Barack Obama and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra toast. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

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  • Dancers Perform In Bangkok

    Dancers perform during a dinner at the Government House in Bangkok. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Greets Children In Bangkok

    President Barack Obama and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra greet children performers. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Talks With Prime Minister Shinawatra

    President Barack Obama talks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Greets Children Of Embassy Staff

    President Barack Obama greets the children of U.S. embassy staff in Bangkok. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Aboard Air Force One En Route To Burma

    President Barack Obama meets with advisors aboard Air Force One. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Arrives In Burma

    President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton wave from Air Force One. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Residents Welcome President Obama To Burma

    Residents line the street to welcome President Barack Obama in Rangoon, Burma. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Meets With President Sein

    President Barack Obama meets with President Thein Sein of Burma. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Meets With The Burmese Parliament

    President Barack Obama and Secretary Clinton meet with members of the Burmese Parliament. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Pours Water Over Buddha

    President Barack Obama tours the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon, Burma. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Barack Obama Rings A Bell

    President Barack Obama rings a large bell during a tour of the Shwedagon Pagoda. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama at the Shwedagon Pagoda

    President Barack Obama stands barefoot in front of the 368-foot tall Shwedagon Pagoda. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Walks Barefoot

    President Barack Obama, guides, and Secret Service agents walk barefoot while touring the Shwedagon Pagoda. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Greets Aung San Suu Kyi

    President Barack Obama greets Burmese Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama With Aung San Suu Kyi and Sec. Clinton

    President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton are photographed with Aung San Suu Kyi. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

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  • President Obama Walks With Aung San Suu Kyi

    President Barack Obama walks with Burmese Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Police Hold Back The Crowd In Burma

    Police hold back the crowd as residents line the street to welcome President Barack Obama. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Talks With Human Rights Advocates

    President Obama talks with human rights advocates, former political prisoners, and religious leaders. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Addresses The Burmese Public

    President Obama addresses the Burmese public in the auditorium at University of Yangon. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Approaching Phnom Penh

    A view of Phnom Penh is seen from the window of Air Force One. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Arrives At Peace Palace

    President Barack Obama arrives at Peace Palace in Phnom Penh. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama At The U.S.–ASEAN Leaders Meeting

    President Barack Obama delivers opening remarks at the U.S.-ASEAN Leaders' Meeting at Peace Palace. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Talks With Prime Minister Key

    President Obama and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key prepare to pose for a group photo. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Talks With Prime Minister Gillard

    President Barack Obama talks with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her partner Tim Mathieson. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Calls Prime Minister Netanyahu

    President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Attends The TPP Meeting

    President Barack Obama attends the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) meeting at the ASEAN Summit. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Bids Farewell To Prime Minister Noda

    President Barack Obama bids farewell to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan after a bilateral meeting. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Is Briefed In Cambodia

    Staff and advisors talk as President Barack Obama is briefed before a bilateral meeting. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama And Premier Wen Jiabao Are Photographed

    President Barack Obama and Premier Wen Jiabao of China before the start of their bilateral meeting. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Capricia Marshall Peeks Through The Curtain

    Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall checks on the meeting between President Obama and Premier Wen Jiabao. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Talks With Secretary Clinton At The U.S.-ASEAN Summit

    President Barack Obama talks with Secretary Clinton about his decision to send her to the Middle East. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Waits For The Start Of The Plenary Session

    President Obama waits for the start of the East Asia Summit Plenary Session at the U.S.-ASEAN Summit. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • President Obama Calls President Morsi

    President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Trip Schedule


SUNDAY

  • President Obama visits Wat Pho Royal Monastery in Bangkok, Thailand
  • President Obama receives a Royal Audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej
  • President Obama takes part in a formal welcome ceremony at Thai Koo Fah Building
  • President and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand will hold a joint press conference, and then attend an official dinner together. This press conference was open press.
    • Read more about President Obama's first stop in Asia

MONDAY

  • President Obama travels to Burma where he meets with President Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi and delivers a speech to encourage Burma’s ongoing democratic transition.
    • Read more about President Obama promised support for the people of Burma
  • In the evening, the President will travel to Cambodia, where he will attend the East Asia Summit and meet with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

TUESDAY

  • President Obama attended the East Asia Summit in Cambodia


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