Palin speaks of China's rise in speech

HONG KONG, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin spoke of China's rise and largely avoided U.S. politics in a speech to a Hong Kong investment group, attendees say.

Palin delivered the keynote address Wednesday to 1,100 attendees at the 16th CLSA Investors' Forum, billed as her first foreign speech. While the event was closed to reporters, some who attended told CNN the one-time Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee talked about the political implications of China's emergence as an economic power, among other topics.

Fund manager Rajesh Kothari told the U.S. broadcaster Palin's "address was more geared towards politics and very focused on China. She did speak about the political implications of China's rise on Asia and the region, and China with America. I was quite impressed by her knowledge. It seemed like she did her homework now, this time around."

Others said she praised Reaganism but avoided talking about U.S. politics.

Mel Goode, a New York business developer who lives in Hong Kong, told CNN it appeared Palin had "learned quite a bit" from her vice presidential campaign, adding, "I am sure she's taken enough criticism where, at this point, she would definitely try to learn a little bit in her mistakes."