Clinton to APEC summit

Clinton to APEC summit

WASHINGTON (AFP): President Bill Clinton will combine a mini- Asian tour with his visit to Indonesia in November for the APEC summit, the White House said Monday.

Clinton will visit the Philippines on November 13 at the invitation of President Fidel Ramos, before going on to Indonesia for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit November 14 and 15, White House spokeswoman Dee Dee Myers said.

After the summit, Clinton will stay on in Indonesia for a visit to Jakarta at the invitation of President Soeharto, but he will not be visiting Australia, as some reports had suggested.

The aim of the summit is "building on the historic work begun last November," when Clinton hosted the first summit of APEC leaders in Seattle, Washington.

APEC groups Australia, Canada, South Korea, China, the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.