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Obama kicks off visits to Russia, Italy, Ghana
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U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk to board the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, DC, en route to Andrews Air Force Base to leave for Russia. (Xinhua/Zhang Yan)
U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday left for Moscow for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev in a bid to "reset" U.S. relations with Russia. He will then head to Italy for the G8 summit and visit Ghana.
President Obama, accompanied by his family members and senior administration officials, will arrive in Moscow on Monday, his advisers told reporters on Wednesday at a press briefing.
In Moscow, Obama will have "a private and a working meeting" with Medvedev. He will also have breakfast with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
The U.S.-Russia summit is expected to focus on reducing stockpile of nuclear weapons, cooperating on non-proliferation and resolving differences over U.S. planned missile defense system in Europe. The two leaders will also discuss the latest development in Iran after the recent presidential election, Russia's bid to enter the World Trade Organization, U.S.-led military operation in Afghanistan.
U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughter Malia walk to board the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, DC, en route to Andrews Air Force Base to leave for Russia. (Xinhua/Zhang Yan)
Before leaving for Rome on Wednesday morning, Obama will also give a speech at the New Economic School on U.S.-Russia relations and meet some Russia political and business leaders.
Looking for Russia's cooperation on dealing with challenges, such as financial crisis, non-proliferation, climate change and terrorism, the Obama administration has vowed to "press the reset button" with Moscow through more bilateral strategic cooperation and conversation.
In Rome, Obama will meet Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and other political leaders before he goes to L'Aquila for the G8 summit, G8-plus-5 meeting and a series of important bilateral meetings, including a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
The current global financial crisis, climate change and clean energy are expected to top the agenda for the G8 summit.
Before leaving for Accra, Ghana, on Friday night, Obama will also visit the Vatican for a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI.
In Accra, President Obama will hold a series of meetings with Ghana's political leaders and make a speech in the Ghanaian parliament on U.S. policy toward Africa.
Obama will return from Accra to Washington on Saturday night.
Source: Xinhua
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