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 Under Secretary for Political Affairs > Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Date: 01/20/2009 Description: Blue envelope icon, used for email subscriptions. State Dept PhotoSign up for East Asian and Pacific Affairs email updates

East Asian and Pacific regionThe Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, headed by Assistant Secretary Kurt M. Campbell, deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. relations with the countries in the Asia-Pacific region. 

World Expo Shanghai 2010Date: 11/16/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton's remarks on U.S. Pavilian at the World Expo Shanghai 2010 during press availability in Shanghai, China. © AP Image from video
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 16): “We’re grateful for your generosity and your steadfast belief in the importance of the Expo, the American role here and what this USA pavilion here can do to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the American people and the people of China. We are building it and we believe that when the Expo opens in 166 days 70 million people will come. And with this rain today, maybe a hundred million people with even greater good fortune will come. Thank you all very much.” Full Text | View Video
Townterview at University of St. Tomas in Manila Date: 11/13/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton addressed an audience during a townterview with Maria Ressa, Ricky Carandang and Pinky Webb of ABS-CBN at the University of St. Tomas in Manila, Philippines. © AP Image
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 13): "It was very significant historically, when our presidential nominating campaign was between a woman and an African American. I mean, that was such a great symbol of our country. And I was very proud to see Barack Obama inaugurated as our President, and very honored to work with him in his Administration. But the Philippines is ahead of us. You've had two woman presidents. So I really should ask you what's the secret here, because it's quite a tribute to your society that you are choosing people on the merits in a democratic process. And I think that that will come to pass in our own country."  Full Text | View Video
APEC Singapore ConferenceDate: 11/11/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton steps on stage to give remarks following APEC ministerial meeting. © AP Image
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 11): "[W]e’ve had a productive day of discussion, covering the full range of regional and global issues confronting our nations. I have stressed the Obama Administration’s commitment to substantive cooperation. That is a commitment that I have felt very strongly about and made clear on my first trip as Secretary of State to Asia earlier this year. And when President Obama arrives here later this week, he will underscore our view that APEC is an essential forum for engagement and for common action." Full Text
Meetings in Burma
Date: 11/04/2009 Description: Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell and Deputy Assistant Secretary Scot Marciel meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the Inya Lake Hotel in Burma. © State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Campbell (Nov. 4): "Today in Rangoon, our team met with ethnic representatives and had a two hour meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi during which we reaffirmed our commitment to a dialogue among the government, the opposition and the ethnic groups. The goal of such a dialogue would be national reconciliation and a fully inclusive political process inside Burma. Towards that end, we urge the Burmese government to allow Aung San Suu Kyi more frequent interactions with stakeholders especially the Central Executive Committee of her own party. In meetings with the government including the Prime Minister, the Minister of Information, the Minister of Science and Technology and many others, we clearly stated that the U.S. is prepared to take steps to improve the relationship. But that process must be based on reciprocal and concrete efforts by the Burmese government." View Video | Photo gallery | Comments in Japan  | Remarks by Deputy Assistant Secretary Marciel
U.S. Policy Toward Burma
Date: 10/21/2009 Description: Assistant Secretary for of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt M. Campbell testifies before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the U.S. Policy Toward Burma. © House Recording Image from Video
Assistant Secretary Campbell (Oct. 21): "[W]e support a unified, peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Burma. While our goals in Burma remain the same as before, the policy review confirmed that we need additional tools to augment those that we have been using in pursuit of our objectives. A policy of pragmatic engagement with the Burmese authorities holds the best hope for advancing our goals. A central element of this approach is a direct, senior-level dialogue with representatives of the Burmese leadership. We hope a dialogue with the Burmese regime will lay out a path forward towards change in Burma and a better, more productive bilateral relationship." Full Statement | Video
Implementation of the UN Resolutions on North Korea
Date: 10/20/2009 Description: Philip Goldberg, U.S. ambassador in charge of enforcing U.N. sanctions against North Korea, speaks to reporters in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. © AP Image
Ambassador Goldberg (Oct. 20): "Our agreement on the way forward is really based in three areas: one is a return to the core principle, the essential element of discussing denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula; second, that this should be achieved through a multilateral framework, the Six-Party framework; and number three, implementation of the resolutions 1874 and 1718, which have been agreed as part of our cooperative efforts to achieve denuclearization and a return to the multi-party framework." Full Text

President Hosts a Town Hall Meeting for Youth in Shanghai, China
Full Video and Photos: The President's Town Hall in Shanghai | President Obama's Trip to Asia

U.S. Donates New Relief Funds to the Philippines
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 12): "Today, I am pleased to announce that there will be more than $5 million in new relief funds for the Philippines. This new support will help rebuild schools like this one..." Full Text

Travel to Singapore and Philippines
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is traveling in Asia November 10-19, 2009.

Preview of the November APEC Meetings in Singapore
Senior Official Tong (Nov. 3): "President Obama will make his first trip to Asia since taking office and participate in his first APEC leaders meeting in Singapore. There will be quite a raft of senior U.S. Government officials going to Singapore. Secretary Clinton is going to and participate in the annual ministerial meeting." Full Text | View Video

Expulsion of Diplomats in Fiji
Department Spokesman Kelly (Nov. 4): "The United States deplores the decision by Fiji's de facto government to expel New Zealand's acting head of mission, as well as Australia's high commissioner. This latter act is unprecedented in that Australia now holds the chairmanship of the Pacific Islands Forum. These actions have undermined any opportunity for progress toward reengagement and constructive dialogue with its neighbors." Full Text

North Korea: Re-launch Six-Party Talks 
Spokesman Kelly (Nov. 3): "[W]e’re focused on with North Korea is getting to the point where we can re-launch the Six-Party Talks which will get us to our ultimate goal, which is the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. I’ll say, as a matter of principle, that reprocessing plutonium is contrary to North Korea’s own commitments that it committed to in the 2005 joint statement, and also would be a violation of various UN Security Council resolutions. And what we’re looking for is North Korea to take steps to achieve verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner."  Full Text

Meeting With Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew
Date: 10/26/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton and Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew make remarks before their meeting. © State Dept ImageSecretary Clinton (Oct. 26): "I’m delighted to welcome the Minister Mentor here today. He is no stranger to our country. Singapore is a long and valued partner on so many important issues. And I think it is fair to say, sir, that you have a great many admirers. You’re here to accept an important award that is given for lifetime achievement, and I join in the many Americans who thank you for your service."  Full Text

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