Hillary Clinton visits Japan on inaugural trip in Asia

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-17-2009 14:53

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, arrrived in Tokyo on Monday night - the first leg of her inaugural trip abroad as Barack Obama's chief diplomat.

Economic, defense and human rights issues will top the agenda of her one-week Asian trip.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a speech upon her arrival at Tokyo's Haneda Airport February 16, 2009. [Agencies]

Representatives from the Special Olympics Committee and athletes turned out for the first secretary of state ever to make Japan the first overseas stop.

Clinton made it a point to stress the importance of Asia in US policy.

Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, said, "I have come to Asia as my first trip as secretary of state to convey that America's relationships across the Pacific are indispensable to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of the 21st century."

Clinton is set to discuss several issues with Japanese leaders. These include the strengthening of the Japan-US alliance and the ongoing financial crisis, as well as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Middle East.

The top US diplomat and her Japanese counterpart, Hirofumi Nakasone, are expected to sign a new accord Tuesday on the planned relocation of 8-thousand US Marines from Okinawa to Guam.

Clinton is scheduled to be in Japan until Wednesday, and will then travel to Indonesia, South Korea and China.