Middle East

Documents & Texts from America.gov

05 February 2009
Clinton To Make First Foreign Mission to East Asia

By Merle David Kellerhals, Jr.
Staff Writer

Washington — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will address a broad range of issues, from economics to climate change, during an eight-day, four-nation trip through East Asia, a State Department official says.

Clinton will depart Washington February 15 on her first foreign mission since taking office in January. She chose to make Asia her first stop because of its strategic importance and the ever-increasing role it plays across the U.S. foreign policy spectrum, department deputy spokesman Robert Wood said at a February 5 daily briefing.

“In all capitals, the secretary will be discussing common approaches to the challenges facing the international community, including the financial markets turmoil, humanitarian issues, security and climate change,” Wood said.

Clinton will visit Japan February 16–18, then Indonesia February 18–19, before heading to South Korea February 19–20 and concluding the foreign mission in China February 20–22.

Two other issues that will receive attention during the secretary’s talks are human rights and women’s empowerment, Wood said.

“The secretary felt that going to Asia would send a tremendous signal to Asia and those in the world of the importance of Asia particularly to our foreign policy agenda,” Wood said. “The fact that she’s going to Asia as her first trip, I think is very significant.”

In Tokyo, Clinton will meet with senior Japanese officials for talks on the strategic bilateral alliance and cooperation on regional and global issues, he said. In addition, both in Japan and elsewhere on this trip, the secretary will discuss North Korea and the course of the Six-Party Talks, which are aimed at eliminating nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, he said.

The Six-Party Talks include China, which hosts the talks, Japan and South Korea. Others in the talks include Russia, North Korea and the United States.

“Certainly, the issue of North Korea will come up in conversation,” Wood said. “We all want to see how we can get the North Koreans to abide by their international obligations.”

In Jakarta, Indonesia, Clinton will hold consultations with senior Indonesian officials to discuss the growing partnership with Indonesia and common interests in Southeast Asia. Wood said the secretary will also be looking at whether the U.S. Peace Corps program can be reopened in the country. The Peace Corps ceased operations in Indonesia during the mid-1960s.

“Indonesia is an important country for the United States. The secretary feels it’s important that we need to reach out and reach out early to Indonesia,” Wood said. Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world.

What foreign affairs actions should President Obama consider? Comment on America.gov’s blog.

back to top ^