Clinton Says US Seeks Leadership Role in Asia
VOA News
28 October 2010
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States will continue to project American leadership in the Asia-Pacific region to promote economic growth, regional security and democratic values.
In a speech Thursday in Hawaii, Clinton called for wider trade between the United States and Asia. To promote this goal, she said the United States is advocating for more open markets and fewer restrictions on trade with Asian partners. In particular, she called on China to ensure a better business environment for U.S. investors.
Clinton is beginning a 13-day tour of the Asia-Pacific region that will take her to seven countries, including Vietnam, for this week's meetings of Southeast Asian leaders and the East Asia Summit.
In her policy speech Thursday, Clinton emphasized that a strong U.S. military presence is an important element of U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific region.
Clinton also said she is troubled by some of the human rights abuses in the region.
She said she is "saddened" that Asia is the only place in the world where three Nobel Prize laureates are either under house arrest, in prison or in exile. She was referring to Burma's pro-Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, China's Liu Xiaobo, who won the prize this year, and the Dalai Lama.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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