US Secretary of State Begins Visit to China
By VOA News
20 February 2009
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives at airport in Beijing, 20 Feb 2009
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in China, the final stop of a four-nation tour of Asia that has focused on the global economic crisis, climate change and North Korea＇s nuclear program.
Before arriving in Beijing Friday, Clinton used a visit to South Korea to stand together with Seoul and urge North Korea to not take any provocative actions.
Speaking at news conference with her South Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan, the two also urged the North to return to border talks and re-open its dialogue with Seoul.
Late last month, North Korea announced that it was canceling all political and military agreements with South Korea.
Tensions have been increasing on the Korean peninsula. U.S. and South Korea have warned that North Korea is planning a test launching of a long-range ballistic missile possibly capable of reaching the United States.
Clinton warned that any such action would violate a United Nations resolution imposed after a similar test in 2006.
While in South Korea, Clinton also announced that Stephen Bosworth will be Washington＇s new envoy to North Korea and the chief negotiator to the six-party talks on North Korea＇s nuclear program.
Bosworth, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, recently made a five-day visit to North Korea, where he says officials told him they are willing to talk to the Obama administration.
The veteran diplomat said North Korea expressed willingness to move forward with long-stalled denuclearization talks, and downplayed reports about the possible missile test.
During her stay in China, Clinton is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. She will also hold talks with Chinese counterpart.
Clinton is scheduled to leave China for Washington on Sunday February 22.
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