Dates: 2/15/09 - 2/22/09
Secretary Clinton Visited Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and China
Total Trip Miles: 22,402 miles
In her first trip abroad since taking office, Secretary Clinton traveled to Asia, where she discussed common approaches to the challenges facing the international community, including the financial markets turmoil, humanitarian issues, security, and climate change.
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Feb. 15, 2009: Secretary Clinton's visit to Asia for her first trip as Secretary of State sent a clear message that the United States will be fully engaged as a trans-Pacific power and partner. Secretary Clinton visited Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and China.
Feb. 17, 2009: In Japan, Secretary Clinton signed the Guam International Agreement, which will position the U.S.-Japan security alliance to meet the challenges of this time by moving 8,000 American troops from Okinawa to Guam. Secretary Clinton also hosted her first overseas Town Hall at the University of Tokyo.
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Feb. 18, 2009: Secretary Clinton's visit to Indonesia laid the groundwork for transforming the U.S. relationship with Indonesia into a comprehensive partnership and reflected a renewed engagement with ASEAN. In a visit to the ASEAN Secretariat, the first by a Secretary of State, Secretary Clinton announced the U.S. intention to launch the formal interagency process to pursue accession to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Pictured with Secretary Clinton is ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan.
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Feb. 18, 2009: The Secretary's appearance in Indonesia--a key Southeast Asian nation, and also the world's most populous Muslim country--sent a clear signal to countries of that region that the United States is once again a player there and provided the best opportunity to showcase the Secretary's emphasis on smart power. In addition to bi-lateral meetings, Secretary Clinton hosted a dinner with civil society leaders, spent time in a neighborhood to highlight USAID/local partnerships, and appeared on a pop culture television program called "Awesome."
Full Text | Video | U.S.-Indonesia Dialogue
Feb. 20, 2009: In Korea, Secretary Clinton hosted a Town Hall at the world's largest women's university, where she underscored the United States' commitment to advancing the rights of women to lead more equitable, prosperous lives in safe societies. In Indonesia, Secretary Clinton met with elected women officials, and in China she met with civil society leaders.
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Feb. 21, 2009: While in China, Secretary Clinton met with President Hu, Premier Wen, State Councilor Dai, and Foreign Minister Yang, providing a platform for her to convey both personally and publicly that the United States wants a "positive, cooperative, relationship" focused on global issues of common concern. Premier Wen spoke of a "new historical starting point" in U.S.-China relations. Pictured with Secretary Clinton is Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
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Feb. 21, 2009: On Secretary Clinton's visit to China, she announced plans to establish a new clean energy partnership between China and the United States to develop and deploy clean energy technologies designed to speed our transformation to low-carbon economies.
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Feb. 26, 2009: In addition to Secretary Clinton traveling to the region to consult with allies, she swiftly appointed Ambassador Stephen Bosworth to be Special Representative for North Korea Policy. In early March, Ambassador Bosworth traveled to Beijing, Tokyo, and Seoul to consult with senior officials in those countries about the North Korea nuclear issue and how to move the Six-Party process forward. In response to North Korea's recent test launch, Secretary Clinton reached out to leaders of Six-Party countries and coordinated with Ambassador Susan Rice to deliver a strong statement condemning North Korea's launch.
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Feb. 26, 2009: Secretary Clinton hosted a trilateral meeting at the State Department with Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta and Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi to exchange views on the strategic issues, which at the time were under review by the Obama Administration.
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Dates: 2/28/09 - 3/8/09
Secretary Clinton Visited Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Belgium, Switzerland, and Turkey
Total Trip Miles 15,518 miles
Secretary Clinton participated in the donor's conference for Gaza recovery hosted by Egypt, then traveled to Israel and the Palestinian Territories and met with senior officials. In Brussels, Secretary Clinton attended an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers, and met with EU officials. While in Geneva and Ankara, she met with key officials.
Mar. 2, 2009: Senator Mitchell traveled with Secretary Clinton to the Gaza Donors' Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh on her second trip as Secretary of State. At the Gaza Donors' Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Secretary Clinton announced a U.S. pledge of more than $900 million to be split among humanitarian relief for Gaza, budget support for the Palestinian Authority, and general development and security aid for the Palestinian Authority in both the West Bank and Gaza.
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Initiating Engagement With Syria
Mar. 2, 2009: In Sharm el-Sheikh, Secretary Clinton announced that the U.S. would be sending two representatives to Damascus, Syria to explore renewed engagement. Ambassador Jeff Feltman and the NSC's Dan Shapiro traveled to the region and discussed issues of mutual concern with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mu'allim the presidential advisor on political and media affairs, Bouthaina Shaaban and with the Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Faisal Mekdad.
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Mar. 4, 2009: While in the West Bank, Secretary Clinton announced new grants for Palestinian students interested in studying at American universities so that a larger pool of capable young men and women from places such as the West Bank and Gaza can compete with students in other countries for the opportunity to study in America. This announcement is part of Secretary Clinton's hallmark focus on investments in civil society and people-to-people diplomacy.
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Mar. 7, 2009: Upon her visit to Turkey, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan reaffirmed the strong bonds of alliance, solidarity and strategic partnership between the Republic of Turkey and the United States. While in Turkey, Secretary Clinton also appeared on Haydi Gel Bizimle Ol, a TV interview with a group of women journalists.
Full Text | Interview
Dates: 3/25/09 - 3/26/09
Secretary Clinton Visited Mexico City, Monterrey, Dallas, Houston
Total Trip Miles: 6,562 miles
Mar. 25, 2009: At the invitation of Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa, Secretary Clinton traveled to Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico from March 25 to 26. While in Mexico, Secretary Clinton discussed a broad range of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest, including cooperation under the Merida Initiative.
Mar. 25, 2009: Secretary Clinton visited Mexico City and Monterrey to underscore that the relationship between Mexico and the United States must be even stronger in the future and the U.S. is committed to a partnership built on comprehensive engagement, greater balance, and shared responsibility for hemispheric and global issues. Secretary Clinton pledged $80 million for Blackhawk Helicopters, $1.4 billion for the Merida Initiative, and an additional $720 million for border infrastructure. The Secretary also emphasized clean energy public and private partnerships with Mexico. During Secretary Clinton's trip, she visited a cutting-edge biogas plant in Monterrey that procures electricity from methane extracted from garbage.
Dates: 3/30/09 - 3/31/09
Total Trip Miles: 4,031 miles
At the invitation of Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to the Netherlands to attend the "International Conference on Afghanistan: A Comprehensive Strategy in a Regional Context" in The Hague on March 31.
Mar. 31, 2009: At the suggestion of Secretary Clinton, the Dutch Government hosted an International Conference on Afghanistan at The Hague on March 31. At the conference, Secretary Clinton hosted a series of bi- and tri-lateral meetings including with Afghanistan President Karzai, Foreign Minister Qureshi, General Pasha and others from Pakistan's delegation, and representatives from key regional and donor countries (e.g., the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Jan Balkenende). Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Holbrooke together urged leaders from participating countries to address the common challenges posed by turmoil in the region through substantial pledges to Afghanistan.
Full Text | Press Availability
Dates: 4/1/09 - 4/5/09
Total Trip Miles: 5,011
At the invitation of Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, Secretary Clinton traveled to the Netherlands. On April 1, she joined President Obama as he traveled in Europe.
Apr. 6, 2009: Secretary Clinton hosted the first-ever joint session of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the Arctic Council where she highlighted, among other things, the critical role of science in understanding the impacts of climate change at the poles. Deputy Secretary Steinberg also attended the Arctic Council ministerial and "Melting Ice" meeting in Tromso, Norway.
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Apr. 9, 2009: Secretary Clinton hosted the AUSMIN conference at the State Department. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, and Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon also attended.
Full Text | Video | Australia-U.S. Ministerial Meeting
Apr. 14, 2009: At the Haiti Donor's Conference in Washington, DC, Secretary Clinton pledged $57 million in U.S aid to boost Haitian security, build roads, create jobs, fight drug trafficking, and improve food security. The Secretary also announced that through the U.S. Government, a charitable organization will be established to which the Haitian Diaspora and the U.S. can contribute. We will help coordinate other NGOs, particularly those that have been started by Haitian Americans who want to give back and are looking for the best way to do so. Secretary Clinton also recently traveled to Haiti and the Dominican Republic before joining President Obama at the Summit of the Americas.
Apr. 15, 2009: In response to the Maersk situation, Secretary Clinton announced counter-piracy initiatives in a press availability. Initiatives include: sending an envoy to the Somali donors' conference calling for immediate meetings with U.S. partners in the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia urging Somali Government officials to take action against pirates operating from bases within their territory and working with shippers and the insurance industry to address gaps in their self-defense measures.
Full Text | Video | Remarks on Maersk Situation
Dates: 4/16/09 - 4/19/09
Total Trip Miles: 6,715 miles
While in Haiti, Secretary Clinton met with President Rene Preval to discuss issues of common concern including stability, security, and assistance. In the Dominican Republic, the Secretary met with President Leonel Fernandez and discussed bilateral development cooperation and efforts to combat drug trafficking. At the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Secretary Clinton accompanied President Obama to a gathering of the 34 democratically elected leaders of the Western Hemisphere.
Travel Page | Photos: Haiti and Dominican Republic
Apr. 17, 2009: Prior to joining President Obama at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, Secretary Clinton hosted a Digital Town Hall of the Americas in the Dominican Republic. An online audience of 20,000 watched the event live throughout the hemisphere and over 360,000 viewers saw the town hall on YouTube. Pictured with Secretary Clinton is Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez.
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Apr. 22, 2009: On Earth Day, the Secretary launched a "Greening Diplomacy Initiative," demonstrating the State Department's commitment to lead by example in improving the sustainability of our facilities and operations both domestically and abroad.
Apr. 23, 2009: Secretary Clinton testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State in her first set of Congressional hearings since becoming Secretary of State.
Full Text | Video | Remarks Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Dates: 4/23/09 - 4/26/09
Secretary Clinton Visited Kuwait City, Baghdad, and Beirut
Total Trip Miles: 13,868 miles
The trip to Iraq is her first as Secretary of State. While in Baghdad, Secretary Clinton met with senior leaders in the Government of Iraq. She also held a town hall with Iraqi citizens who work day in and day out with Provincial Reconstruction Teams, to hear from and discuss with them what they are achieving as well as issues facing the Iraqi people.
Apr. 27, 2009: The climate change dialogue continued with the first preparatory session for the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in Washington, DC. The Forum convened 17 economies, representing some 80 percent of the world's economic output and greenhouse gas emissions, to accelerate progress toward a successful outcome in Copenhagen and facilitate the exploration of concrete initiatives and joint ventures that can put us on the pathway to a low-carbon economy. The April session will be followed by two more preparatory sessions, culminating in a Leaders Meeting in Italy in July.
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