Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers her first major foreign policy speech on the eve of her first visit to Asia as a member of the Cabinet.
In her first major foreign policy speech, made on the eve of a four-nation tour of Asia, with visits to Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and China, Secretary Clinton said that the U.S. will resume mid-level military-to-military discussions with China. The talks were suspended by Beijing last year after U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
"It is in our interest to work harder to build on areas of common concern and shared opportunities," said Clinton.
"Even with our differences, the United States will remain committed to pursuing a positive relationship with China, one that is essential to America's peace, progress and prosperity."
Bio
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama.
She was a United States Senator from New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, she was the First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001. She was a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2008 election.
Vishakha N. Desai
Vishakha Desai is president and CEO of Asia Society, a leading global organization committed to strengthening partnerships among the people, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the US. Desai sets the direction for the society’s diverse sets of programs, ranging from major US–Asia policy initiatives and national educational partnerships for global learning to groundbreaking art exhibitions and innovative Asian American performances. She has an international reputation for introducing contemporary Asian art in the US through critically acclaimed exhibitions and scholarly catalogues. Under her leadership, Asia Society has expanded the scope and scale of its activities, including opening new offices in India and Korea, the inauguration of a new center on US-China relations, and the development of new initiatives focusing on the environment, on Asian women leaders, and on partnerships among the next generation of exceptional leaders in Asia and the US.
Hillary Clinton emphasizes the Obama administration's commitment to global sustainability and finds plenty of opportunity for Americans to thrive in the push towards a sustainable version of the American Dream.
"Changing to compact fluorescent bulbs is not the kind of sacrifice that is going to undermine the quality of our life," she jokes.
I hope this isn't just political mouthing off and that the Obama administration will actually get the ball rolling on making this country a more sustainable place to live. Modernizing the electric grid should be priority number one in my opinion.