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John Kerry to visit Asia next month

Xinhua, March 15, 2013

• U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will make his first trip to Asia next month with stops in the Republic of Korea, Japan and China, the State Department said on Thursday.

  The top American envoy will first attend the meetings of the Group of Eight industrialized nations in London on April 10-11 before heading for Asia, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a regular news briefing.

  "During his trip to Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing, the secretary will meet with counterparts and discuss the full range of bilateral, multilateral and regional issues as well as our economic cooperation and the environment," Nuland said.

  "And in June, the secretary looks forward to participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum chaired by Brunei and also visiting some other Southeast Asian partners," she added. "During these engagements, the secretary will continue to affirm the administration's commitment to further broaden and enhance U.S. economic security and strategic interests in the Asia Pacific region."

  Kerry toured nine countries in Europe and the Middle East from Feb. 24 to March 6 after he took office on Feb. 1, with focus on the two-year conflict in Syria.

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