President Obama will attend his final G-20 Leaders' Summit in China in early September, and will become the first sitting U.S. president to visit Laos, the White House announced Thursday.

The Sept. 2-9 trip will be President Obama's 11th to Asia, as the administration has made a concerted effort to strengthen economic and political ties in the region. A White House press release said the president will meet with the presidents of both communist countries to advance economic development and discuss a "wide range of global, regional and bilateral issues."

The White House indicated that Obama may also use the visit to promote the Trans-Pacific Partnership, despite criticism of the trade agreement from his former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who he has endorsed for the presidency, and Republican nominee Donald Trump. The statement said Obama will push for expanded U.S. exports to the region, and said the TPP would "unlock key markets to American exports."

The president will also attend the East Asia Summit in Laos, where he will meet with Asia-Pacific region leaders to discuss efforts to ensure the international rule of law.