A glance at features of Hillary Clinton´s Asian tour

Source: Xinhua | 02-22-2009 16:53

by Xinhua writer Zhao Yi

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday concluded her weeklong visit to Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China, described by the No.1 U.S. diplomat as a "listening tour" and "one intended to really find a path forward."

While Clinton was sparing no efforts to highlight the importance of her first diplomatic trip since taking office, the mass media and observers have also been following the visits closely, believing that they would send important signals about new U.S. President Barack Obama and his administration's diplomatic policies in the region.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SINO-U.S. RELATIONS

As early as last year, when she was still a presidential candidate, Clinton pointed out that "our relationship with China will be the most important bilateral relationship in the world this century."

Up to her latest visit to Beijing, she reiterated the U.S. promise made in the Sino-U.S. Joint Communique of Aug. 17, 1982, under which the United States recognized the Chinese government as the sole legal government of China, and acknowledged the Chinese position that there is but one China, and Taiwan is part of China.

Such a positive posture has apparently laid an important foundation for the further development of Beijing-Washington ties.

Clinton did not avoid mentioning contradictions and differences between China and the United States. However, she stressed that divarication cannot block the possibility of significant cooperation between Washington and Beijing on such issues as the global economic crisis, climate change and security threats such as the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).