With focus on Euro, China, no bilateral with PM for Obama

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama travels to Cannes in France later this week to attend the crucial G-20 meeting where his focus on situation in the Eurozone would devoid him from any bilateral with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"In Cannes, we expect the Eurozone to be the primary focus of discussion, but in addition the leaders will focus on mechanisms that have been put in place to ensure strong, balanced and sustainable growth," Michael B Froman, the Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs, told reporters at a White House news conference today.

Obama leaves for Cannes on Wednesday night to attend the G-20 Summit later this week, which would be attended by the leaders of the top 20 global economies, including the Indian Prime Minister.

As of now, no bilateral meeting is scheduled between Obama and Singh.

The two leaders also did not meet in New York in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

No official reason was given for the two leaders skipping the opportunity for an one-o-one meeting for the second time in succession.

Ben Rhodes, the Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, told reporters that Obama would be holding bilateral meetings with host French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angele Merkel and Argentinian President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

Besides attending meetings of the G-20 on Thursday and Friday, Obama would also meet international labour leaders, Rhodes said.