U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton started her first overseas trip to Asia. The goal was to "convey that America's relationships across the Pacific are indispensable to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of the 21st century" (Japan Times). She visited Japan, China, North Korea, and Indonesia. Her main purpose in Japan was to assure the nation that Japan is a key ally to the United States.

As a part of her taut one-day itinerary in Japan, Secretary Clinton renegotiated troop alignments in the region to "ensure defense of Japan against attack." She left China with promises from its leaders to work for a solution to the global economic crisis and environmental issues.

Secretary Clinton's visit to Indonesia assured the government that it was coming out of its "diplomatic isolation." She also put Indonesia forward as an example of the ideal moderate Muslim nation. In North Korea, she assured the administration that the U.S. is willing to have better diplomatic ties with the nation.

On 1-7 March, she travels to Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Belgium, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Secretary Clinton attended and participated in the donor’s conference for Gaza recovery hosted by Egypt on March 2. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell and other high-level representatives were in attendance in Sharm el-Sheikh with the Secretary during the conference. The Secretary also met with senior Egyptian officials.

After the conference, Secretary Clinton traveled to Israel and the Palestinian Territories and met with senior officials.

In Brussels, Secretary Clinton will attend an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on March 5, where she will consult with Allies and seek consensus on the approach to the upcoming NATO Summit. The Secretary also will attend a meeting with foreign ministers from all NATO and EU countries, as well as Switzerland, to further boost transatlantic relations.

Also in Brussels, Secretary Clinton will meet separately with EU officials.

In Geneva, Secretary Clinton will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest, including possibilities for a follow-on agreement to START, and deepening our cooperation in areas such as Afghanistan.

While in Ankara Secretary Clinton will meet with key Turkish officials.