US President Bush leaving Monday for trip to Asia, Olympics

Jul 31, 2008, 3:14 GMT

Washington - US President George W Bush will leave Monday on his ninth trip to Asia in nearly eight years in office, a White House official said.

The opening of the Beijing Olympics will be the highlight of the seven-day tour that also includes stops in South Korea and Thailand.

The president and First Lady Laura Bush will arrive on Wednesday in Seoul, said Dennis Wilder, senior director for Asian affairs in Bush's National Security Council.

The next day, August 6, President Bush is scheduled to meet with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, whom Bush hosted in March at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland.

Bush will continue the same day to Bangkok for a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. On August 7, Bush plans to deliver a major address on US policy toward East Asia.

The first couple is slated to fly on August 7 to Beijing to attend Olympic events including the opening ceremonies on August 8.

Bush will remain in Beijing through August 11, with plans to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Xi Jinping. Further Bush events in Beijing include the opening of a new US embassy complex, with his father, former president George Bush, also scheduled to attend.