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Clinton to US House: 'Daunting Challenges'...'Priorities Clear.'

'Our priorities are clear. We are deploying the tools of diplomacy and development along with military power. We are securing historic alliances, working with emerging regional powers, and seeking new avenues of engagement. We’re addressing the existing and emerging challenges that will define our century: climate change, weak states, rogue regimes, criminal cartels, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, poverty, and disease. We’re advancing our values and our interests by promoting human rights and fostering conditions that allow every individual to live up to their God-given potential.'  -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Secy. of State Clinton Speaking before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, April 22nd.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Ranking Member. Greetings to many friends and former colleagues. It is a pleasure to be here with you this morning. This Committee has been the source of many advances in our nation’s foreign policy and I look forward to working with you to continue that tradition.

When I appeared before the Senate – that’s that other body on the other side of the Capitol – I spoke during my confirmation hearing of a commitment to pursue a policy that would enhance our nation’s security, advance our interests, and uphold our values. Today, nearly 100 days later, I am pleased to report that we have begun making progress toward achieving that goal.

I want to begin by recognizing and thanking the men and women of the State Department and USAID, who are serving our country around the clock and around the world. I’m extremely proud of their work. With their talents, and under President Obama’s leadership, we have put forward a new diplomacy powered by partnership, pragmatism, and principle.

PHOTO: United States Department of State

US: 'North Korea -- It's a step backwards...they will have to deal with the consequences of that decision'

US State Dept. on N. Korea: ...The North Koreans took a decision. They wanted these monitors out. As I said, it’s a step backwards. We want to see the Korean Peninsula denuclearized. This clearly is not taking us in the right direction. But the North made a decision. As I mentioned to you many times the other day, the Security Council has spoken through that presidential statement, made very clear what is required of the North. Should the North not comply, then they will have to deal with the consequences of that decision....

ON CHINA/RUSSIA and North Korea Situation:
...We have worked very closely with the Chinese and the Russians up in New York to try to agree on a presidential statement, which we were able to do. And we’ve had good conversations with both governments. We’ve worked very closely, as I said, with them on this issue and we’ll continue to be....Both parties have an interest in seeing the North go back to the Six-Party framework, as we do. And what we need to find a way is to – we need to find a way to get them back to the Six-Party framework. 

AUSTRALIA - US Issue Communique: Talk Trade, Defense, DeNuke Korea, China and Pakistan -- all in a G'day

Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations
Joint Communiqué -- From Washington, DC, April 9, 2009

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith, and Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon met in Washington D.C. on April 9, 2009 to further the United States-Australia alliance and to discuss global and regional security issues. The talks marked the 24^th anniversary of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) and 58 years of strategic partnership under the ANZUS alliance.
The 2009 AUSMIN, the first such meeting under the Obama Administration, confirmed the strength and contemporary relevance of the U.S.-Australia alliance in strategic, security, military, and foreign policy fields. The discussions reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to work together closely to support their common interests and to achieve their shared objectives.

Global Security
The United States and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. Noting the recently released Afghanistan and Pakistan strategic policy review undertaken by the United States in cooperation with allies, the two countries agreed on the importance of a comprehensive approach to regional challenges. They endorsed the Chairman’s Statement of the March 31 International Conference on Afghanistan in The Hague. The two countries agreed on the continuing priority attached to curbing the ability of al-Qaida and other terrorist groups to operate in the region. They reaffirmed their commitment to work together to give the Afghan people the means to secure their own future, particularly by building the capacity of the Afghan National Army and Police.

The Diplomacy of Climate Change -- US to World: 'We believe'

'George Bush didn't believe in climate change. I do...'
'we're going to turn off all the lights and everybody is going to stop driving...'

Climate Change and environmental issues have not been center stage on US President Barak Obama's diplomatic, economic (G20) and defense (NATO) tour of Europe. The Climate issue has been ever-present, however, in the more informal sessions and Town Halls, many having younger demographics.

These remarks came in response to questions from the audience at Obama's Town Hall in Istanbul, TURKEY, Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Responding to how he is different than Pres. Bush:
OBAMA: When it comes to climate change, George Bush didn't believe in climate change. I do believe in climate change, I think it's important. That doesn't mean that suddenly the day I'm elected I can say, OK, we're going to turn off all the lights and everybody is going to stop driving. Right? All I can do is to start moving policies that over time are going to obtain different results.

He also responded to a question specifically about what he will do about Climate Change:
OBAMA: As many of you know, I think the science tells us that the planet is getting warmer because of carbon gases that are being sent into the atmosphere. And if we do not take steps soon to deal with it, then you could see an increase of three, four, five degrees, which would have a devastating effect, the oceans would rise; we don't know what would happen to the beauty of Istanbul if suddenly the seas rise. Changing weather patterns would create extraordinary drought in some regions, floods in others. It could have a devastating effect on human civilization. So we've got to take steps to deal with this.

When the Kyoto Protocol was put forward, the United States opted out of it, as did China and some other countries, and I think that was a mistake, particularly because the United States and, is the biggest carbon, has been the biggest carbon producer. China is now becoming the biggest carbon producer because its population is so large. And so we need to bring an international agreement together very soon.

The US - China Meeting

'The two sides agreed to maintain close communication and coordination  and to work together for the settlement of conflicts and reduction of tensions that contribute to global and regional instability, including the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue, Sudan  humanitarian issues, and the situation in South Asia.'

White House Readout on Obama Meeting with President Hu of China
On 1 April 2009, President Barack Obama of the United States and President Hu Jintao of China met on the sidelines of the G20 Financial Summit in London, the United Kingdom.  The two heads of state had an extensive exchange of views on U.S.-China relations and global issues of common interest, and reached the following points of agreement:

I. Toward Enhanced U.S.-China Relations

The two sides agreed to work together to build a positive, cooperative, and comprehensive U.S.-China relationship for the 21st century and to maintain and strengthen exchanges at all levels.  President Hu Jintao invited President Obama to visit China in the second half of this year, and President Obama accepted the invitation with pleasure. 

Pres. Obama's very International radio address

OBAMA: President Hu and I agreed that the link between China’s economy and ours is of great mutual benefit, and we established a new Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the U.S. and China.

President Medvedev and I discussed our shared commitment to a world without nuclear weapons,
and we signed a declaration putting America and Russia on the path to a
new treaty to further reduce our nuclear arsenals.

US President Barak Obama gives a weekly radio address. Typically (lately) the statement this has been directed to the American people and focused on domestic issues (namely the weakened economy). This time, in light of the G-20, NATO meetings and other stops in Europe -- the address was very International. Here it is:

US PRESIDENT OBAMA --  Saturday, April 4, 2009:

In this new century, we live in a world that has grown smaller and more interconnected than at any time in history. Threats to our nation’s security and economy can no longer be kept at bay by oceans or by borders drawn on maps. The terrorists who struck our country on 9/11 plotted in Hamburg, trained in Kandahar and Karachi, and threaten countries across the globe. Cars in Boston and Beijing are melting ice caps in the Arctic that disrupt weather patterns everywhere. The theft of nuclear material from the former Soviet Union could lead to the extermination of any city on earth. And reckless speculation by bankers in New York and London has fueled a global recession that is inflicting pain on workers and families around the world and across America.

The challenges of our time threaten the peace and prosperity of every single nation, and no one nation can meet them alone. That is why it is sometimes necessary for a President to travel abroad in order to protect and strengthen our nation here at home. That is what I have done this week.

US, China meet in UK: Obama and Hu -- Discuss just about everything.

A few highlights excerpted from the White House's Readout on --
ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MEETING WITH CHINESE PRESIDENT HU
...the President accepted an invitation to visit China sometime in the later half of this year. And we’ll go from there...this was the first time they met. They had spoken on the phone for a couple times after the election and inauguration. I’d say that the high points were that they agreed on a characterization of the relationship as a positive – building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship for the 21st century. As you know, there have been characterizations in the past; this is the one that is agreed upon here...
They discussed a broad range of issues. I’ll just list them at the outset and we’ll get into greater depth as you wish. They discussed bilateral relations, including military – military-to-military relations. They discussed the economy – domestic economy and the international economy. They discussed a range of international issues – notably North Korea, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan. They also discussed human rights in Tibet and Taiwan. Climate change was also mentioned. Am I missing anything? That’s, I think, the whole list. And we can get into greater depth on these as you wish...
I would say that President Obama’s approach on China is marked by pragmatism, by a non—ideological approach, a belief that this is a critical relationship for addressing and resolving global issues, starting with the international economic and financial crisis, but also things like North Korea, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan and climate change. The President said that none of these issues are going to be resolved if the U.S. and China don’t work together. He recognized that China in the last decade has greatly increased its own strength and its own role in the world, and he looks to build a relationship with China where China works cooperatively with us to resolve these international issue

LOOK at G-20: World Leaders Descend on London

G20 Photos and Comments by the leaders of INDIA, RUSSIA and CHINA

'The G20 has an important role to play in addressing the global economic and financial slowdown by taking coordinated and purposeful action. It is important and necessary for the Summit to take credible decisions which will help to halt and reverse the current slowdown and to instill a sense of confidence in the global economy.'

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
meets with UK PM Gordon Brown  April 1st 2009

'If you ask what we are proposing, it is simply a more equitable international financial system. In principle all states are talking about this. The issue is where to put the emphasis and whether we want to move forward or simply remain stuck in the situation we have today. Our position is that we need to move forward. I hope that this position will be well-received by our partners during my visit to London for the G20 summit.'

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
at 10 Downing Street, April 1st 2009

 

'Challenge and opportunity always come together. Under certain conditions, one could be transformed into the other.'

 

Chinese President, Hu Jintao
Arriving at 10 Downing Street, April 1st 2009

Photos provided by the London Summit. Limited Use / Crown Copyright

Obama-China Meeting: What was said?

President met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in a meeting that was closed to the press. So what topics came up -- in this environment of increased tensions between to 2 mega-countries?

Here are a few highlights from the Readout on the meeting from the White House Press Office:

During today’s meeting, President Obama and Foreign Minister Yang discussed the overall state of the U.S.-China bilateral relationship...The two also discussed other important global issues, including the international financial crisis, North Korea, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the situation in Sudan.   The President also stressed the importance of raising the level and frequency of the U.S.-China military-to-military dialogue in order to avoid future incidents.

On the international financial crisis, the two agreed that China and the U.S. must work closely and urgently, as two of the world’s leading economies, to stabilize the global economy by stimulating demand at home and abroad, and get credit markets flowing.  The President also emphasized the need to address global trade imbalances.

On human rights, the President noted that the promotion of human rights is an essential aspect of U.S. global foreign policy.  The President expressed his hope there would be progress in the dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama’s representatives...The President also highlighted the risks posed by North Korea’s missile program. The Full White House Readout

Obama and Chinese Foreign Minister meet at White House

   
President Obama met with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi,
this afternoon, at the White House. The Chinese F.M. is in Washington
this week for a range of diplomatic and economic meetings.

China to Congress: 'Correct Your Mistakes'

The resolution rudely intervenes in China's internal affairs.

TODAY -- China lodged a formal complaint over yesterday's US House resolution on Tibet. This as President Obama is about to meet (this afternoon) with the Chinese Foreign Minister.

Selected statements from the Chinese official news agency Xinhua, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu, in Beijing:
The Chinese government and people are strongly dissatisfied with and resolutely opposed to the approval of a Tibet resolution by the U.S. Congress on Wednesday.

The resolution disregards the real situation in Tibet and makes groundless accusations against China's religious policies. It glorifies the Dalai Lama's secessionist activities over the years and runs counter to the norms of international relations.

The resolution rudely intervenes in China's internal affairs. The Chinese government and people are strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to it. China has lodged "solemn representations".

The spokesman urged the resolution's backers to correct their mistakes immediately, stop interfering in China's internal affairs using the Tibet issue, and stop harming Sino-U.S. relations.

Obama & Clinton & CHINA to meet today

A White House Welcome as Unfriendly Words Fly by

President Obama's invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiech, to the White House this afternoon, is being seen as a diplomatic move aimed as releasing tensions between the two nations. Recent issues have included verbal sparring over Tibet and nearly-real sparring in a maritime incident.

From White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on President Obama's meeting this afternoon with Yang Jiechi, Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs:  "...the Foreign Minister will meet with Secretary Clinton today; will meet tomorrow with National Security Adviser Jim Jones, and they will both meet then with the President. The President looks forward to discussing issues of mutual concern with the Chinese Foreign Minister, including our global economic crisis, and the incident involving the boats of the two countries will be on that list for discussion. I don't think it will overshadow it, but I think the President will continue to make clear our country's position".