WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- US president George W. Bush leaves Washington Monday for a week-long trip to Asian countries to discuss with the Asian leaders issues such as trade, avian flu andother issues of common concern.

    The Asian trip, the first of its kind in Bush's second term in office, will take him to Japan, South Korea, China and Mongolia.

    Japan will be Bush's first stop, where he will meet Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi to "look at a number of issues of mutual importance," according to a senior White House official, who briefed reporters on the Bush's visit last weekend.

    In South Korea, Bush will meet his South Korean counterpart RohMoo-hyun and will also attend the APEC economic leaders' informal meeting to be held in Busan, South Korea.

    Bush will arrive in Beijing on Nov. 19, his third visit to China since 2001, and will meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

    In a round-table interview with Asian reporters at the White House last week, Bush told Xinhua that he looked forward to meeting once again with President Hu and talking with him about the vital issues.

    He also said the United States and China "do have cooperation" on trade, and also can work together in the war on terror, on advancing the Doha Round multilateral trade talks and in the areasof fighting avian flu and energy.

    Mongolia is Bush's last stop of his four-nation Asia trip and this will be a first visit to the country by a sitting US president.

    Talking about his trip to the Asian countries, Bush said that "this is a chance to continue to advance those relationships." Enditem