President Barack Obama will press leaders from Southeast Asia to boost trade and back common goals for the South China Sea during a summit starting on Monday that the White House hopes will solidify U.S. influence in the region.
Obama will also discuss curbing North Korea and plans to fight the Islamic State group during the two-day meeting with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at Sunnylands, a California resort.
The visit, at the same location where Obama once hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping, is designed to demonstrate Washington's commitment both as a counterweight to Beijing and as an eager trading partner with ASEAN nations.
