US President George W. Bush will visit Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia later this month in addition to previously announced visits to the Philippines and Thailand, the White House announced Wednesday.

White House has previously announced that Bush will visit the Philippines on Oct. 18, Thailand on Oct. 18 to 19 and attend the annual APEC leaders' meeting in Bangkok on Oct. 20 to 21.

In addition to these, "the President has also accepted invitations from Prime Minister Koizumi to visit Japan on October 17 to 18, from Prime Minister Goh to visit Singapore on October 21to 22, from President Megawati to visit Indonesia on October 22, and from Prime Minister Howard to visit Australia on October 22 to 23," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement.

Bush "looks forward to his discussions with these leaders on important bilateral, regional, and global issues," McClellan said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2003)