Latest  News

Kerry to visit Europe, Mideast on first foreign trip

US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Europe and the Middle East next week for his first foreign trip since taking over the reins at the State Department earlier the month, the Department announced on February 20.

From February 24 to March 6, Kerry will travel to the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

Visit  Details

Countries and issues
	Kerry will meet with senior British officials to discuss the range of bilateral and global issues on which we are closely coordinating.
	Kerry will hold bilateral meetings with German officials on issues of mutual interest, as well as make a number of public appearances, including an exchange of views with German young people on the state of European-American relations.
	Kerry will hold talks with senior French officials to discuss our ongoing cooperation as part of the international effort to support Mali, as well as other issues of regional and global importance.
	Kerry will participate in a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings with US European allies to review the wider trans-Atlantic relationship and to discuss issues of global concern. Kerry will also participate in multilateral meetings on Syria, and with the leadership of the Syrian Opposition Coalition.
	Kerry will meet with Turkish officials to discuss strategic priorities from ending the crisis in Syria to promoting regional stability, peace, and security as well as explore areas to deepen US-Turkey bilateral cooperation, including counterterrorism cooperation.
	Kerry will meet with senior Egyptian officials, other political leaders, civil society leaders, and the business community to encourage greater political consensus and moving forward on economic reforms.
	Kerry will meet with the Saudi leadership to discuss bilateral cooperation on a broad range of shared concerns, and participate in a ministerial meeting with counterparts from Gulf Cooperation Council nations.
	Kerry will visit Abu Dhabi.
	Kerry will conclude his first foreign trip in Doha, Qatar, where he will meet with Qatari leadership to discuss bilateral and regional issues of concern, such as the ongoing crisis in Syria, Afghanistan, and Middle East peace.
Possible meeting
	Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are looking for an early opportunity to meet. It is possible for them to meet during Kerry's trip. The two sides are trying to get the calendars together.
Focuses
●Syria crisis will be the most important topic.
●Kerry will not visit Israel and Palestine.
●Kerry will not visit any Asian-Pacific country.

Media  Comments

Associated Press: Kerry’s 1st official trip heading to Europe, Mideast _ but no stops in Israel, West Bank

Kerry won’t travel to Jerusalem or Ramallah until this spring — when he accompanies President Barack Obama to the region.

The announcement will likely dampen any lingering hopes that the Obama administration might unveil a fresh initiative to revive the moribund Mideast peace process.

Global Times: Kerry alone can’t reverse US foreign policy

As secretary of state, Kerry will face unprecedented challenges. Constructive change is needed in US foreign policy in order for Washington to help build a new, peaceful and cooperative international system.

Background

First foreign visit of Hillary Clinton, last US Secretary of State
Map: www.tianditu.cn
	Clinton, Nakasone agree to step up Japan-US alliance Visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone agreed to "step up the bilateral alliance" to tackle various global issues.
	Clinton: US Indonesia to form comprehensive partnership The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on the second leg of her Asian trip that the United States and Indonesia would form a comprehensive partnership.
	Clinton leaves Seoul for Beijing During Clinton's stay in Seoul, she held meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and paid calls to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, respectively.
	China, US to integrate dialogues, work on economy, climate change China and the United States agreed to establish a dialogue on strategic and economic issues and pledged to work together to tackle the global financial crisis and climate change.
Comments
A glance at features of Hillary Clinton's Asian tour While Clinton was sparing no efforts to highlight the importance of her first diplomatic trip since taking office, the mass media and observers have also been following the visits closely, believing that they would send important signals about new US President Barack Obama and his administration's diplomatic policies in the region.
Clinton's inaugural visit leaves Japan with assurance, deliberation Japan is needed and vital. The United States needs an Asia strategy that has room both for China and Japan to serve as responsible regional stakeholders of interests and power, working more collaboratively than in zero-sum conflict.

Related  Reports

John Kerry prefers peaceful resolution of conflicts
Kerry pledges to strengthen economic ties with EU
John Kerry pledges to restart Mideast peace process
US evaluating steps to stem violence in Syria: John Kerry
John Kerry starts first day as US secretary of state