This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7891511.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Clinton makes first visit to Asia | Clinton makes first visit to Asia |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Hillary Clinton has arrived in Japan on her first overseas visit as the top US diplomat, days after pledging greater engagement with Asia. | |
| Her tour - taking in Indonesia, South Korea and China - is the first time Asia has been the initial trip for a US secretary of state since the 1960s. | Her tour - taking in Indonesia, South Korea and China - is the first time Asia has been the initial trip for a US secretary of state since the 1960s. |
| Mrs Clinton says she is keen to build engagement with Asian leaders. | Mrs Clinton says she is keen to build engagement with Asian leaders. |
| Talks are expected to focus on the economic crisis, climate change and the North Korean nuclear issue. | Talks are expected to focus on the economic crisis, climate change and the North Korean nuclear issue. |
| In a speech on Friday, Mrs Clinton said that building alliances in the Asia-Pacific region was a priority for the new US administration. | In a speech on Friday, Mrs Clinton said that building alliances in the Asia-Pacific region was a priority for the new US administration. |
| "I hope to signal that we need strong partners across the Pacific, just as we need strong partners across the Atlantic," she said at the Asia Society in New York. | "I hope to signal that we need strong partners across the Pacific, just as we need strong partners across the Atlantic," she said at the Asia Society in New York. |
| "We are, after all, both a trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific power." | "We are, after all, both a trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific power." |
| North Korea fears | North Korea fears |
| By making Japan her first stop, Mrs Clinton will be seeking to reassure America's key ally in the region that its relationship with Washington is still strong and will remain so, says the BBC's state department correspondent, Kim Ghattas. | By making Japan her first stop, Mrs Clinton will be seeking to reassure America's key ally in the region that its relationship with Washington is still strong and will remain so, says the BBC's state department correspondent, Kim Ghattas. |
| There has been fear in Tokyo that the Obama administration would neglect Japan as it focuses on more pressing issues, our correspondent says. | There has been fear in Tokyo that the Obama administration would neglect Japan as it focuses on more pressing issues, our correspondent says. |
| Japan's top government spokesman, Takeo Kawamura, said the two sides would discuss ways of strengthening both the Japan-US alliance and co-operation on the issue of North Korea. | Japan's top government spokesman, Takeo Kawamura, said the two sides would discuss ways of strengthening both the Japan-US alliance and co-operation on the issue of North Korea. |
| The visit comes amid speculation that Pyongyang could be planning to test-fire a long-range missile, and with talks on an aid-for-disarmament deal currently stalled. | The visit comes amid speculation that Pyongyang could be planning to test-fire a long-range missile, and with talks on an aid-for-disarmament deal currently stalled. |
| Mrs Clinton will also meet the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. | Mrs Clinton will also meet the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. |
| The US secretary of state will then move on to Jakarta, followed by Seoul. But her final stop, Beijing, will be at the heart of the tour, our correspondent adds. | The US secretary of state will then move on to Jakarta, followed by Seoul. But her final stop, Beijing, will be at the heart of the tour, our correspondent adds. |
| When she was running for president last year, Mrs Clinton wrote an article outlining her foreign policy in which she stated that America's relationship with China would be the most important bilateral relationship in the world this century. | When she was running for president last year, Mrs Clinton wrote an article outlining her foreign policy in which she stated that America's relationship with China would be the most important bilateral relationship in the world this century. |
| Speaking to the BBC on Friday, Mrs Clinton said there were real opportunities to develop a good relationship with Beijing on issues such as climate change and clean energy. | Speaking to the BBC on Friday, Mrs Clinton said there were real opportunities to develop a good relationship with Beijing on issues such as climate change and clean energy. |