(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-08 11:22

NEW YORK -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will leave here for Beijing Saturday, starting a week-long trip to China and Indonesia.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, right, delivers his remarks during ceremonies for the extension of New York's No. 7 subway line, in the Times Square subway station Monday Dec. 3, 2007. [Agencies]

"I am leaving tomorrow morning, and getting Sunday night to Beijing, China," the mayor said about the trip on his weekly radio show on Friday.

Bloomberg said he will spend two days in Beijing and another two days in Shanghai before flying to Bali, Indonesia to attend the UN climate change conference.

Concerning his trip to China, Bloomberg said earlier this week at a news conference: "We have an enormous Chinese population here. We're a major trading partner - not just the country, but New York City, and there are a number of issues that we have."

Attempting to strike a lighter note, Bloomberg added, "Not to mention the fact that maybe my daughter will be in the Olympics, although I don't think so."

Bloomberg's younger daughter, Georgina, may join the equestrian show jumping team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The mayor would speak next Monday at a conference in Beijing, sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and the US Commerce and State Departments, on innovative societies.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg is expected to speak on economic competitiveness at an undetermined location, with an event to follow on Wednesday at the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

On Friday's radio show, Bloomberg also mentioned that he will discuss environment with Chinese officials.

He lauded the efforts of the Chinese government lately in helping distribute information about the danger of smoking, on which Bloomberg's foundation is very much concentrated.

On Dec. 13, he will travel to Indonesia. The next day, on Bali, the mayor will speak at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Talking about the trip on his weekly radio show, Bloomberg said the UN conference will be an opportunity to bring issues that affect New Yorkers to the world stage.

"What I want to talk about is urging them to include cities in their discussion, because in the end, if you think about it, people in big cities around the world are the ones that suffer the most from pollution, just because of the concentration," said Bloomberg.

"And mayors, I've been saying this for a long time, are the ones that are really the ones on the ground, where the rubber meets the road, dealing with pollution," he added.

Bloomberg is expected to discuss several of his global warming initiatives, including congestion pricing and his support of a national carbon tax.

During the trip, Bloomberg will take along Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, who has been promoting his presidential prospects almost since the mayor was re-elected in 2005. The mayor is also bringing his companion, Diana Taylor.

Bloomberg's latest itinerary sparked new speculation that the mayor may have an eye on the White House.

His official trips have taken him to Mexico, Paris and London as well as New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Seattle and St. Louis earlier this year.