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

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

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SINO-U.S. 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 U.S. promise made in the Sino-U.S. Joint Communique of Aug. 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 U.S.-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.

Meanwhile, Clinton predicted that the exchange of mutual concerns over bilateral and world issues would open a new era for comprehensive dialogue and cooperation between the United States and China.

Regarding bilateral military cooperation, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman announced a day after Clinton's departure for Asia that, "On Feb. 27-28, 2009, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense David Sedney will hold annual Defense Policy Coordination Talks with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Beijing."

The scheduled talks will focus on military-to-military relationship between the two countries, regional and global security issues, as well as on means to expand cooperation between the two militaries, according to the spokesman.

Sino-U.S. military exchanges have been suspended since last October, when the Bush administration notified Congress of its plan to sell arms worth about 6.5 billion U.S. dollars to Taiwan, including a Patriot III anti-missile system and an E-2T airborne early warning aircraft upgrade system.

In the "Aug. 17 Communique" in 1982 between China and the United States, the U.S. side is committed to reducing its arms sales to Taiwan in both qualitative and quantitative terms, leading to a final resolution.

REAFFIRMING TIES WITH ASIAN ALLIES

Of the four nations that Clinton visited, Japan and South Korea are major U.S. allies in Asia. In addition to their very close relations with the United States in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy and finance, both host U.S. military bases regarded as the most important in the Pacific region.

It is generally believed that amid the scenario of another deadlock looming over the more than five-year-old effort to settle the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and with the sharp worsening of ties between the DPRK and South Korea, Washington is determined to beef up its traditional ties with Tokyo and Seoul in a bid not only to alleviate itself from terrible financial crisis, but to put more pressure on Pyongyang as well.

Some analysts said Clinton's promises to the leaders of Japan and South Korea to maintain allied relations are not only a kind of comfort and assurance, but also of importance to maintain longstanding U.S. political influences and military presence in East Asia.

POSITIVE SIGNAL TO MUSLIM WORLD

Clinton's 24-hour visit to Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country in the world, was widely seen as a remarkable signal from the White House to the Muslim community, angered by former U.S. president George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq without credible reason.

A moderate Muslim country, Indonesia is also home to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) headquarters, and a regional power with the biggest economy in Southeast Asia. All these characteristics are consistent with Clinton's goal of using "smart power" to form comprehensive partnerships, analysts said.

Indonesia can play a leading role in bridging the West and Muslim world, because it is the third largest democracy in the world that has clearly demonstrated that Islam, democracy and modernity can not only co-exist but are also tied together, Clinton told a joint press conference after meeting with Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda.

Apart from its role of a bridge between the United States and the Muslim world, Indonesia was also praised by Clinton for hosting the Bali climate conference and for its help in setting the framework for jointly preventing deforestation.

Source: Xinhua