U.S. President Barack Obama is likely to address the Congress next week, both Democrats and Republicans, to make known his policy priorities, including his economy recovery plan, said the White House on Friday.

"I think it is likely that he will speak to a joint session of Congress sometime in February," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told a press conference.

"We look forward to continuing to seek their ideas, to seek their input and have a process where their ideas can be debated and voted on," he said.

The address, whose date has not yet been decided, will the first time for Obama to formally speak to Congress members since he was sworn in as a president.

U.S. presidents are required to update the Congress with their governance annually by delivering the "State of the Union" address.

However, a newly-sworn president usually addresses the Congress about his priorities since his presidency just kicks off.

According to Gibbs, the president will also go to the Capitol Hill to talk to Republican lawmakers next week to seek their opinion on his economic stimulus plan.

He has been calling for bipartisan cooperation in the Congress to pass his economic recovery plan, which was estimated valued at 825 million U.S. dollars.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2009)