The White House says U.S. President Barack Obama will listen to his
colleagues and not dictate to a global economic summit in London this
week.
Mr. Obama leaves Tuesday for his first official European visit and face-to-face talks with several major world leaders.
He will represent the United States at a summit of the Group of 20 industrialized and developing nations.
Many countries have blamed the United States and its deregulated banking system for the world economic crisis. They also are reluctant to follow the United States in spending more taxpayer funds during a time of growing budget deficits.
But in an interview in Sunday's Financial Times newspaper, Mr. Obama said the G20's most important task is to deliver a strong message of unity in the face of a crisis. He said countries need both economic stimulus and regulation to assure growth while making sure that another economic breakdown does not happen.
While in London, Mr. Obama plans to meet for the first time with the leaders of China, Russia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and India.
After London, Mr. Obama will attend a 60th anniversary NATO summit near the French-German border to talk about Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He also plans to stop in Ankara for a meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and in the Czech Republic, where the United States plans to build part of missile defense system that Russia strongly opposes.
Mr. Obama leaves Tuesday for his first official European visit and face-to-face talks with several major world leaders.
He will represent the United States at a summit of the Group of 20 industrialized and developing nations.
Many countries have blamed the United States and its deregulated banking system for the world economic crisis. They also are reluctant to follow the United States in spending more taxpayer funds during a time of growing budget deficits.
But in an interview in Sunday's Financial Times newspaper, Mr. Obama said the G20's most important task is to deliver a strong message of unity in the face of a crisis. He said countries need both economic stimulus and regulation to assure growth while making sure that another economic breakdown does not happen.
While in London, Mr. Obama plans to meet for the first time with the leaders of China, Russia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and India.
After London, Mr. Obama will attend a 60th anniversary NATO summit near the French-German border to talk about Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He also plans to stop in Ankara for a meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and in the Czech Republic, where the United States plans to build part of missile defense system that Russia strongly opposes.