A glance at features of Hillary Clinton's Asian tour

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-22 15:54

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

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) arrives to a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing February 21, 2009. [Agencies]

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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 US President Barack Obama and his administration's diplomatic policies in the region.

New Opportunities for Sino-US 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 US promise made in the Sino-US Joint Communique of August 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).

"Our pressing on human rights issues can't interfere" with dialogue on other crucial topics, Clinton said in Beijing on Friday.

It was noticed that prior to her trip to China, Clinton cited an ancient Chinese story of warring feudal states "crossing the river in a common boat," pointing out that, "when you are in a common boat, you need to cross the river peacefully together."

During his meeting with Clinton, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao responded positively to Clinton's metaphor about US-China relations. In the face of the complicated and ever-shifting international political and economic situation, China and the United States should not only "cross the river in a common boat," but also "progress together hand in hand," Wen said.

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