State Department House Blogger

We're hardly talking about our relationship to the world these days, what with us being so mired in economic meltdown. But especially with the globalized nature of our world, re-engagement and an end to discredited and tired Bush policies is vitally important. In her inaugural blog post as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton discusses some of these challenges.

Over the past 30 years, I've had the privilege of traveling to a very different Asia. Today, Asia is on the cutting edge of so many of the world's innovations and trends. In making my first trip as Secretary of State to Asia, I hope to signal that we need strong partners across the Pacific, just as we need strong partners across the Atlantic. I have become fond of saying that America is as much a transpacific power as it is a transatlantic one.

The Obama Administration believes that the futures of the United States, countries in Asia and around the world are increasingly inextricably linked. As you may know, I spoke from the Asia Society in New York City on Friday afternoon where I outlined the opportunities that I see for stronger bilateral, regional, and global cooperation and ongoing collaboration to deal with the economic crisis, to strengthen our alliances, to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and to build on efforts to face challenges like climate change, clean energy, pandemic healthcare crises and so much more.

As I've said before, America cannot solve the problems of the world alone, and the world cannot solve them without America. A Chinese aphorism says, "When you are in a common boat, you need to cross the river peacefully together." The wisdom of that aphorism must guide us today.

Secretary Clinton hasn't always offered the best policy remedies, but this perspective of re-engagement is important. Not a lot of Americans are going to be watching these developments, yet they will make us a stronger country in the long run.