Obama keen to head down under

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says US President Barack Obama has told him he's keen to visit Australia once he leaves the White House.

Outgoing US President Barack Obama is keen to head down under when he leaves the White House, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says.

Speaking after a meeting with the president on the sidelines of the United Nation's general assembly in New York, Mr Turnbull said the pair discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade deal, which Australia and New Zealand are signatories to.

"He expressed his optimism it can be passed during the lame duck (period)," he told reporters on Wednesday (local time), referencing the period of time after the US presidential election, but before the new president is sworn in.

They also discussed the worsening conflict in Syria and the global migration crisis.

"On a more personal note, the president who of course is coming to the end of his term, expressed, not for the first time, his enthusiasm of making an early visit to Australia after he ceases to be president of the United States," Mr Turnbull said.

"Naturally I assured him that he would be very, very warmly welcomed."


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Source: AAP



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