President Obama said Sunday his current priority is to make sure his Afghanistan strategy is working, as opposed to the Washington-driven debate over when U.S. troops might come home.

"Now, there has been a lot of obsession around this whole issue of when do we leave," Obama said following the G-20 summit in Toronto. "My focus right now is how do we make sure that what we're doing there is successful, given the incredible sacrifices that our young men and women are putting in."

Speaking with reporters after the summit wrap-up, Obama also said he welcomed pledges by other nations to cut their budget deficits in half by 2013. The president also said he and aides will be watching China in the months ahead to make sure it follows through on a pledge to stop manipulating the value of its currency.

As for Afghanistan, Obama repeated that July 2011 will be the start of a process in which U.S. troops begin withdrawing and turning over security operations to the Afghans themselves. But he added that, at least economically and diplomatically, the U.S. will be helping Afghanistan for many years to come.

Here is some play-by-play from the news conference:

6:03 p.m. -- President Obama kicks off with brief remarks, first thanking Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for hosting the G-20 summit, representing some 85 percent of the world economy. Talks about the efforts of all nations to confront the global economic slump. "We have pulled ourselves from the brink," he says, but adds that too many people remain out of work.

Jobs are his "highest economic priority," Obama adds, but he also speaks of reducing the U.S. debt and improving its trade. He also says he will watch China to see if it follows through on pledges to let the value of its currency reflect the global market forces.

After lauding the cooperation among all the different countries -- "we can bridge our differences" -- Obama wraps up and prepares to take questions.

6:11 p.m. -- The Associated Press asks Obama if the G-20's emphasis on reducing debt is a repudiation of his economic policy, and also asks how he wants to punish North Korea for its recent attack on a South Korean ship.

After admonishing reporters to stick to one question at a time, Obama says the U.S. helped write the G-20 summit, including the section on budget deficits and debt. Adds that countries need to "balance" their approach to the economic slowdown, with stimulative government spending and programs as well as debt reduction.

As for North Korea, Obama says aides are working with the United Nations Security Council on addressing North Korea. Praises South Korea for exercising "restraint," as the international community decides what message to send the North about its "unacceptable behavior."

6:17 p.m. -- A Bloomberg News reporter asks about monitoring China's promise to ends its currency manipulation, giving it a huge trade advantage. Obama says he trusts China, but "the proof of the pudding is going to be in the eating" and that "we will be paying attention." He declines to put a specific deadline on Chinese action.

6:22 p.m. -- The New York Times asks about reports that Pakistan is brokering talks between Hamid Karzai's government in Afghanistan and the Taliban, as well about the hope of British Prime Minister David Cameron to have British troops out of Afghanistan in five years.

Obama doesn't say much about Cameron and talks instead about his own plan to start withdrawing U.S. troops in July 2011, but notes that the U.S. will be assisting Afghanistan for years to come. "This is going to be tough," he says, but adds that U.S. efforts will be constant review by his administration.

As for the Pakistan-led peace talks, Obama says "it's too early to tell," and the U.S. will be watching with "skepticism, but openness." Says all regional players need to understand the value of peaceful relations.

6:28 p.m. -- CBS News radio asks about this week's confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan -- is he concerned about the possibility of a Republican filibuster?

Obama urges Senate Republicans "to listen" to Kagan, whom he calls a brilliant legal thinker. Notes that conservative jurists have endorsed Kagan, and that criticism of the nominee has been "pretty thin gruel."

6:31 p.m. -- A Japanese reporter asks Obama about the future of the U.S.-Japan defense alliance, and also about the president's conversation with Chinese president Hu Jintao regarding the North Korean attack on South Korea.

Obama says he made clear to Hu that North Korea is the "belligerent" and that China should be prepared to admonish its government. Says it is in the world's interest to see a denuclearized Korean peninsula, especially the people of North Korea.

As for Japan, its alliance with the U.S. remains strong, Obama says. "We are always going to be there for Japan, we are always going to be there for South Korea," he adds.

6:37 p.m. -- A CNN reporter follows up on Afghanistan, citing the country's difficult history -- how can we be sure it won't slide back into terrorism?

Obama says he doesn't have "a crystal ball," but the U.S. has a vital interest in making sure that Afghanistan doesn't again become a base of terrorist operations, as it was before 9/11. But we can't expect Afghanistan to be transformed in just a few years, after more than three decades of warfare. "I think we can make a difference," he says of the U.S and its partners.

Right now, Obama says, he wants to make sure his plan is working -- and repeats that July of 2011 is the date to start the transition toward Afghan-run security and gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops.

6:42 p.m. -- An NPR reporter asks what steps Obama is prepared to take now to build confidence he will cut the deficit in half by the year 2013, as pledged by all the G-20 countries.

We're already taking action, Obama responds, citing new budget rules, efforts by the Pentagon to cut waste, and creation of a fiscal commission that will make deficit reduction recommendations by the end of year -- including "structural problems" like Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlement programs, as well as what to do with a "messy" tax system.

Says he will do what he has promised to do, citing the health care bill as an example, and plans to "call the bluff" of Republicans who have complained about the deficit.

That's the last question; we're out at 6:46 p.m.

(Posted by David Jackson)