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Clinton to build ties in Jakarta US pledges stronger Jakarta ties
(about 9 hours later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, on the second leg of her four-nation Asian tour. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has praised Indonesia for showing that "Islam, democracy and modernity" can thrive together.
During her brief visit, Mrs Clinton is scheduled to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and other senior officials. She spoke in the capital, Jakarta, on the second leg of her Asian tour, after talks with counterpart Hassan Wirajuda.
They will discuss a range of issues including education and climate change. The two discussed building ties on issues such as climate change, trade, security and counter-terrorism.
But Mrs Clinton's visit is also being carefully watched for signs of a new US policy towards the Muslim world. Mrs Clinton said Indonesia shared both interests and values with the US, and had an important global role to play.
This is in some ways the most intriguing part of her Asian tour. "Building a comprehensive partnership with Indonesia is a critical step on behalf of the United States' commitment to smart power," she said.
The symbolism is powerful - her first visit to a Muslim majority country; a stable, democratic country, half a world away from the Middle East. What Mrs Clinton did not say much about, however, was what exactly she would like Indonesia's role to be.
And in a sign of the breadth of expectations Mrs Clinton will face here, her welcoming party included both senior government officials, and students from US President Barack Obama's old school. Nor did she spell out the details of her government's "new way forward" in relations with the Muslim world.
'Mutual respect' She did bring greetings from President Barack Obama, who spent some of his childhood in Indonesia.
Mr Obama spent some of his childhood in Jakarta and there is a lot of goodwill among Indonesians towards his new government. She said that experience had given Mr Obama insight into how people from different backgrounds can live together. "It's no accident that I'm here," she said.
He has already made it clear he wants a new kind of relationship with the Muslim world, based on "mutual interests and mutual respect". Powerful symbolism
Mrs Clinton's visit will be carefully watched for signs of that new engagement - and also for signs that Washington wants to develop closer ties with South East Asia. During her brief visit, she is also scheduled to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and regional representatives. Hillary Clinton was welcomed by school children as she landed in Jakarta
Indonesian officials have privately said that is exactly what they are hoping for; that they would welcome closer co-operation with the new US administration. The visit by America's top diplomat is being carefully watched for signs of a new US policy towards the Muslim world, and a new engagement with South East Asia.
Relations between the two governments grew markedly under former President George W Bush, with the normalisation of military ties and cooperation on counter-terrorism, following a spate of bomb attacks by Islamist groups here. The symbolism of this visit is powerful - her first visit as secretary of state to a Muslim majority country; a stable, democratic country, half a world away from the Middle East.
But they deteriorated among the population in general, as a result of US policies in the Middle East, and its invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Relations between the two governments grew markedly under former President George W Bush, with the normalisation of military ties and co-operation on counter-terrorism, following a series of bomb attacks by Islamist groups here.
That is still what defines most attitudes here. But attitudes hardened among the population in general, as a result of US policies in the Middle East, and the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Many people say they welcome the symbolism of Mrs Clinton's visit, and are pleased with President Obama's election, but that they do not expect too much real change. That is still what defines most attitudes here. And many people say they are waiting to see what real changes Mr Obama will bring.