Washington - The next US president could soon be headed on a tour of Asia, if advisors to major-party candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have their way.

At a debate between foreign policy aides to the candidates, sponsored by the National Bureau of Asian Research, advisors to both the Democrat and Republican nominees said they would encourage their candidates to travel to Asia on their first international trip after the November 4 elections.

"I would hope he'd go to Asia first, and that his first stop would be Tokyo," said Frank Jannuzi, an Obama advisor and East Asian specialist for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

David Blumenthal, a McCain advisor who is a fellow on Asia for the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, joked that he could not set the next president's schedule, but when pressed said: "My strong recommendation would obviously be to go to Asia."

Both men stressed the need to mend relations with Asian allies and focus on the region's growing importance to the United States on matters of security and trade.

McCain and Obama will hold their first debate on Friday with a focus on foreign policy and national security issues. (dpa)