U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Asia on her first overseas trip,showing Asia"s growing importance in American foreign policy
Traditionally, the U.S. secretary ofstate heads to Europe first, but onher first foreign trip Hillary Clintonflew across the Pacific to visit fourAsian countries: Japan, Indonesia, SouthKorea and China. It is still too early to tellwhether Washington has shifted its diplo-matic focus from Europe to Asia. But it isclear that Asia has gained importance inAmerican eyes. Because of the deteriorat-ing global financial crisis, the United Statesneeds to encourage every possible party tostand together and confront the economicturmoil, said Chinese observers.