Indonesian president Joko Widodo has cut short his first United States trip to deal with the forest fire emergency in his home country.

Key points: Joko Widodo cuts short US trip

Joko Widodo cuts short US trip President returning home to deal with haze crisis

President returning home to deal with haze crisis Widodo was on mission to woo US investors

Mr Widodo was due to visit Google's headquarters as well as Facebook and reportedly have dinner with Apple's Tim Cook mid-week, but the White House confirmed he will head home instead.

It is a blow for the president, who is hoping to stimulate high-tech investment in his nation.

Specifically he wanted to convince Apple to invest in tin mining directly.

Reuters has reported that Green groups have accused Apple of sourcing tin from suppliers that use child workers and violate environmental laws.

Apple says it does not tolerate underage labour and is dedicated to the ethical sourcing of minerals. Indonesia is the world's largest supplier of tin.

Mr Widodo met with US president Barack Obama in the Oval Office.

The White House said climate was expected to be discussed, including the forest fires, in the hope "two of the world's largest democracies" could work together ahead of talks in December.

In terms of greenhouse gases, it is extraordinary to consider that "since September [the fires] have generated emissions each day exceeding the average daily emissions from all US economic activity", according to the Global Fire Emissions Database.

The Indonesian leader also raised the possibility that his nation could join the Trans Pacific Partnership.

Meetings also focused on closer defence ties, including talks about the current situation in the South China Sea.

It has now been confirmed by an unnamed US defence official that within the next 24 hours, the USS Lassen destroyer will travel within the 12 nautical miles of Subi and Mischief reefs in the area of the disputed Spratly archipelago.

China's response to this US test of "freedom of navigation" will be closely watched and it is expected to be high on the agendas of next month's APEC leaders' and ASEAN defence ministers' meetings.

Indonesia is not a claimant to the disputed territory. Australia and the US have called for the peaceful resolution of the competing claims which have raised tensions in region.

It is interesting to note that Indonesian defence officials visited the US Coast Guard in September and there are talks today between their defence ministers about more cooperation.

Widodo aims to woo US investors

Indonesia has held itself up as a nation that can help in the fight against Islamic State militants and combating Muslim extremism.

South-East Asia has been suffering for weeks from smoke caused by smouldering forest fires in Indonesia. ( AFP: Dennis Jay Santo )

Mr Widodo is also attempting to woo US investors generally. Tonight he will be hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce at an official dinner with the state department.

Ahead of this visit he was drawing on his merchant background, telling The New York Times he is a "businessman" — in reference to his time as a furniture salesman.

He began working at the age of 12 in his father's furniture business and he understands what foreign businesses want — "Indonesia is open for investors".

His economy is growing at its slowest pace since 2009 and he is hoping American businesses can help stimulate it.