Clinton: U.S. is in 'Pacific century'

HONOLULU, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The United States will move ahead as a "resident diplomatic, military, and economic power" in the Asia-Pacific region, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

Clinton, in Honolulu for the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation weekend summit, spoke at the East-West Center about the importance the United States attaches to the region.

She said it is home nearly half the world's population and has the largest and fastest-growing economies and some of the busiest ports and shipping lanes.

"The 21st century will be America's Pacific century, a period of unprecedented outreach and partnership in this dynamic, complex, and consequential region," she said in remarks posted on the State Department's Web site.

Clinton said she has "heard from many different counterparts across the Asia Pacific" of an urgent desire for American leadership.

"The United States is proud of our long history as a Pacific nation and a resident diplomatic, military, and economic power. And we are here to stay," she stressed.

Clinton said challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region demand U.S. leadership. She said the challenges include ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and countering North Korea's provocations and proliferation activities.

"And one of the most important tasks of American statecraft over the next decades will be to lock in a substantially increased investment -- diplomatic, economic, strategic, and otherwise -- in this region," the secretary said.