Bush still plans Asia trip

President Bush spoke with South Korean President Kim Dae Jung Wednesday from the Oval Office.

By CNN's Major Garrett

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush still intends to travel to Asia in mid-October for a series of long-planned economic and bi-lateral meetings in Japan, South Korea, and China, the White House said Wednesday.

The first sign of Bush's intentions came when White House press secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters the president spoke by phone Wednesday with South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and that both leaders are looking forward to their coming meeting in Seoul.

When asked if that was an implicit confirmation that the president's Asia trip is still on schedule, Fleischer said: "That's correct. The planning continues. The everyday assumption is the meetings will take place. We're going to continue to work on the various issues. But today, on September 19, that's your best guidance."

During Bush's conversation with Kim, Fleischer said, the South Korean leader expressed his nation's "deep condolences" and said he was "ready to participate" in the international coalition Bush is attempting to build to confront and defeat global terrorism.

Part of the Asia trip will include meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group, 21 nations devoted to improving trade ties between Asia, Russia and the Western Hemisphere. Those meetings are to occur in Shanghai. From there Bush is scheduled to travel to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Before the APEC meetings, Bush is also scheduled to visit Tokyo.