Clinton previews Asian trip

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Hillary Clinton said Friday she wants "to signal that we need strong partners" in Asia when she makes her first trip to the region as U.S. secretary of state.

Speaking to the Asia Society in New York, Clinton said she will talk to leaders of China and other countries about "a more persistent and rigorous engagement" in issues like global warming and the spread of nuclear weapons, The New York Times reported. She said issues like China's crackdown in Tibet will also come up.

"In making my first trip as secretary of state to Asia I hope to signal that we need strong partners across the Pacific," she said.

Clinton is also scheduled to visit Japan, Indonesia and South Korea next week. She said she can offer the leaders of those countries more attention than they received from the Bush administration.

In her speech, Clinton said President Barack Obama is willing to have normal diplomatic relations with North Korea if the country halts its nuclear program in a way that can be verified.