Japan welcomes Clinton visit Feb. 16-18 as 1st stop on Asia tour

TOKYO, Feb. 6 Kyodo - Japanese government officials on Friday welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's decision to visit Japan on Feb. 16-18 as the first stop on
her maiden trip overseas as the top U.S. diplomat.
Clinton's trip will also take her to Indonesia, South Korea and China.
''Japan being the first stop reflects the importance (President Barack Obama's
administration) places on the Japan-U.S. alliance and carries great
significance,'' Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said at a morning news
conference.
In addition to holding talks with her Japanese counterpart Nakasone, Clinton
will meet Prime Minister Taro Aso.
Aso told reporters in the evening, ''What we need to discuss is what the
world's No. 1 and No. 2 economies should do together amid the economic crisis
-- first to avoid the immediate crisis and then how to build a new global order
following the crisis.''
Nakasone said he expects to discuss a range of issues with Clinton, including
the global financial crisis, the North Korean nuclear issue, Pyongyang's
abductions of Japanese nationals, climate change and global security.
''What is important is to further strengthen the bilateral alliance through the
talks,'' Nakasone said.
The Japanese foreign minister said he plans to convey Japan's positions on the
North Korean nuclear and missile issues, and to discuss with Clinton how to
step up antiterrorism support and humanitarian assistance in areas such as
Gaza, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told a separate news conference, ''We
look forward to frank and honest discussions at the foreign ministerial talks
on tackling various issues facing the world, securing peace and stability in
the Asia-Pacific region, and strengthening the alliance.''
Kawamura emphasized that Japan will seek to reach a ''common understanding''
with the United States on the issue of the unresolved abductions of Japanese
nationals by North Korean agents.
In Washington, the State Department said that after visiting Japan, Clinton
will travel to Indonesia on Feb. 18-19, South Korea on Feb. 19-20 and China on
Feb. 20-22.
Asked why Clinton chose Tokyo as her first stop, State Department Acting Press
Secretary Robert Wood said, ''Japan is an important partner and ally to the
United States.''
During a Senate hearing in January to consider her nomination for the post of
secretary of state, Clinton said she embraces the alliance with Japan as a
''cornerstone'' of U.S. policy in Asia.
==Kyodo