23 Oct 2010

Clinton on Asia-Pacific tour

12:59 pm on 23 October 2010

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is to visit New Zealand and Australia as part of an Asia-Pacific tour starting next week.

Mrs Clinton will also go to Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

It will be Ms Clinton's first visit to Australasia as secretary of state.

The ABC reports she had been planning to do so in January, but the trip was cancelled due to the Haiti earthquake.

Ms Clinton will deliver a speech in Hawaii on US policy towards the Asia Pacific region at the start of the tour.

She will also hold talks there on Wednesday with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara.

The current administration has described South East Asia as a key diplomatic priority.