Asia Bizz: Obama in Indonesia – President hopes to seal trade deals on Asian trip

US President Barack Obama, who is currently on his 10 day Asian tour, is in Indonesia and is scheduled to be there for another day. The President is expected to zero in on a partnership with the country to help to seal trade deals.

After the President arrived in Jakarta, he met the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and then proceeded for state dinner. Obama’s schedule for the day also included, a public speech at the Istiqlal Mosque.

The Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications, Ben Rhodes said about the President’s plans, “In that speech, he’ll have a chance to talk about the partnership that we’re building with Indonesia but also to talk about some of the themes of democracy and development and our outreach to Muslim communities around the world, while also speaking of Indonesia’s pluralism and tolerance as well.”

Indonesia is not new for the President, as he has spent three childhood years in the country. Obama lived in Jakarta from 1968 to 1971 along with his family.