US aims to strengthen leadership role in Asia: Clinton
Clinton made the remarks in her speech on US Asia strategy in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she started her sixth Asia trip on her tenure.
She said US goals in Asia include sustaining and strengthening US leadership role, improving security, heightening prosperity, and promoting US values in the region.
Clinton said the United States has practiced an active form of "forward-deployed diplomacy" in Asia, through which high-ranking officials and development experts have been to "every corner and every capital" of the Asia-Pacific region.
"Because we know much of the history in the 21st century will be written in Asia. This region will see the most transformative economic growth on the planet. Most of its cities will become global centers for commerce and culture," she said.
It is widely believed that the re-engagement efforts by the Obama administration is meant to restore US influence in Asia which is more or less ignored by the Bush administration.
Clinton outlined three pillars of the US strategy in Asia, namely relations with US allies, new partners and key regional institutions.
In her Asia tour, Clinton will visit Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia.
Besides Clinton's lengthy trip, US President Barack Obama will visit India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan next month. Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version