Hillary Clinton kicks off first overseas trip to Japan

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Clinton's tour is seen as an effort to build closer ties with the four major Asian countries and deal with common challenges.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to an audience at the Asia Society in New York February 13, 2009. [Agencies]

Prof. Tomohiko Taniguchi, Keio Universit of Japan, said, "You should remember the United States maintains, you know, covers a huge area of the Pacific Ocean. And the burgeoning economy rests in this part of the world. China is rising, India is rising, Japan is still the second largest economy in the world. Combined the US and Japan represents the slightly more than 30 percent of the world output. That sort of the considerations may have resonated very much well amongst policy circles in Washington DC and certainly among the cabinet members of the Obama administration."

And Japanese are holding high expectations for her Asia tour.

"I hope she will focus on the economy, and tighten ties between the US and Japan. I also hope she will deal with the abductee issue."

"I am grateful that she is coming here before anywhere else. I have high hopes of the new ties with the US that the Obama administration is bringing about."

Seeking stronger cooperation and mutual support in Asia for the United States is a key mission for Clinton, who has repeatedly said America cannot solve the problems of the world alone, and the world cannot solve them without America.

Clinton's talks with leaders in Asia are expected to cover the global financial crisis, climate change, the DPRK nuclear issue and other issues of common concern.