Obama to visit Asia in April

WASHINGTON (AP) A senior U.S. official says President Barack Obama will travel to Asia in April.

National Security Adviser Susan Rice made the announcement Wednesday in a foreign policy speech about the region, but did not specify which countries he would visit.

She said the Obama administration was disappointed that the U.S. government partial shutdown in October forced the president to cancel a trip to Asia.

She said Obama's visit in April will allow him to continue strengthening U.S. ties across the region.