Secretary of State’s Video Message for

International Women’s Day

Remarks as Delivered, 2/23/10

Please click here to see the video.

March 8th is International Women’s Day—a day to reflect on the progress the world has made in advancing women’s rights, and to recognize what work remains to be done.

This year marks an anniversary very close to my heart.  Fifteen years ago, along with women and men from around the world I attended the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.  The message from that conference rang loudly and clearly, and still echoes across cultures and continents:  Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.               

One hundred and eighty-nine countries represented at Beijing adopted a Platform for Action that pledged to increase women’s access to education, healthcare, jobs, and credit, and to protect their right to live free from violence. 

We have made great progress, but there is a long way to go.  Women are still the majority of the world’s poor, unhealthy, underfed, and uneducated.  They rarely cause violent conflicts but too often bear their consequences.  Women are absent from negotiations about peace and security to end those conflicts. Their voices simply are not being heard. 

Today, the United States is making women a cornerstone of foreign policy because we think it’s the right thing to do, but we also believe it’s the smart thing to do as well.

Investing in the potential of the world’s women and girls is one of the surest ways to achieve global economic progress, political stability, and greater prosperity for women — and men — the world over.

So on this International Women’s Day, let us rededicate ourselves to advancing and protecting the rights of women and girls, and to join together to ensure that no one is left behind in the 21st century.

 

 

Ambassador attending Water Seminar in Wuhan

Feburary 4, 2010

Thirteen U.S. companies traveled to Wuhan in Hubei Province to present their water solutions to an audience of 150 Chinese government officials, project owners, and potential business partners.  The program was the first outreach effort of the newly established American Water Working Group (AWWG) led by CS China’s SCO, William Zarit, CO Elizabeth Shieh, CS Wang Yi, and CR Roger Luo.  The U.S. Ambassador to China Jon M. Huntsman Jr. accompanied the group and delivered a keynote speech at the program.  After meeting with the Mayor of Wuhan, he also visited each company’s booth outside the seminar.  Following the seminar, the companies had a 3 hour matchmaking program attended by 150 audience members where the companies reported immediate potential opportunities.  The day ended with a tour of Sha Hu Wastewater Treatment Plant with the Ambassadors, company representatives, and key government officials.  The treatment plant uses the technology of 3 U.S. companies, one of which was part of the delegation. 

The Ambassador met with the Mayor of Wuhan as scheduled and although the group photo was cancelled, the tour of U.S. company booths was in fact a better photo and commercial opportunity for the companies.  The Wuhan chapter of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) did an excellent job bringing to the seminar and the matchmaking meetings that followed the right potential partners for the 13 U.S. companies.  Those included the Wuhan Water Authority, the Environmental Protection Bureau, the Water Resources Bureau, the Urban Investment Committee, Development and Reform Commission, among others.  Initial feedback from the companies is very positive, matchmaking and networking opportunities went on longer than expected and there was a clear sense of enthusiasm on the part of both the U.S. and Chinese participants.  They Mayor pulled out of the keynote role at the seminar and was substituted by the Vice Mayor, but this was not immediately obvious to the participants.  Senior Commercial Officer William Zarit presided over the networking dinner on the first evening with the Vice Mayor, which was very cordial and a lively exchange for the companies.

The U.S. companies included: AECOM, Black & Veatch, Calgon Carbon, Clearwater, Dais Analytic, Environmental Dynamics, ETIG, General Electric, Hach, Inficon, ITT, McWong, and Weston Solutions.

The tour of ShaHu Wastewater Treatment Plant was a good opportunity for the Ambassador to see a state of the art plant using U.S. technology.  Each company was to have sent representatives but they were doing good business at the hotel so many elected not to attend.  The Ambassador was escorted by a technician, not the plant manager as planned which may not be significant.  Accompanying the group were CCPIT officials, the FCS commercial partners.

 

 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of the Spokesman
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                                                                December 14, 2009

                                  2009/1277

Remarks

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
On the Human Rights Agenda for the 21^st Century 

December 14, 2009
Georgetown University
Gaston Hall
Washington, D.C.

SECRETARY CLINTON:  Thank you.  It is wonderful being back here at Georgetown in this magnificent Gaston Hall, and to give you something to do during exam week.  (Laughter.)  It’s one of those quasi-legitimate reasons for taking a break – (laughter) – which I’m very happy to have provided. Thank you.  It is wonderful being back here at Georgetown in this magnificent Gaston Hall, and to give you something to do during exam week.  (Laughter.)  It’s one of those quasi-legitimate reasons for taking a break – (laughter) – which I’m very happy to have provided.   

I want to thank Jas for his introductory remarks, and clearly, those of you who are in the Foreign Service School heard reflections of the extraordinary opportunity you’ve been given to study here as he spoke about the culture of human rights.  It is also a real honor for me to be delivering this speech at Georgetown, because there is no better place than this university to talk about human rights.  And President DeGioia, the administration, and the faculty embody the university’s long tradition of supporting free expression and free inquiry and the cause of human rights around the world.

I know that President DeGioia himself has taught a course on human rights, as well as on the ethics of international development with one of my longtime colleagues, Carol Lancaster, the acting dean of the School of Foreign Service.  And I want to commend the faculty here who are helping to shape our thinking on human rights, on conflict resolution, on development and related subjects.  It is important to be at this university because the students here, the faculty, every single year add to the interreligious dialogue.  You give voice to many advocates and activists who are working on the front lines of the global human rights movement, through the Human Rights Institute here at the law school and other programs.  And the opportunities that you provide your students to work in an international women’s rights clinic are especially close to my heart.

>>The Full Text<<

 

Diane Sovereign, Consul General (CG) of the United States

Consulate General Wuhan

Ms. Diane Sovereign Consul General in Wuhan

Diane Sovereign, a career State Department diplomat,  was pleased and honored to take office on November 30, 2009 as Consul General of the United States Consulate General in Wuhan.  She brings her warmest regards to the government and people of Hubei. 

The Consulate General in Wuhan was established in November 2007 under the provisions of the 1981 U.S.-China Agreement on Consular Facilities. The Consulate General will continue to focus on providing emergency services to American citizens in the region, promoting U.S. exports and fostering other aspects of our commercial and economic relations, and expanding cultural and educational exchanges between the U.S. and central China.

As since the opening in 2007, the Consulate General will not issue visas. Visa applications will be handled as before through the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. 
CG Sovereign has been living and working in Beijing since 2005.  During her time in China she has had the opportunity to many wonderful cities in China. She looks forward in her next two years as Consul General to further exploring and understanding the people and places in the Wuhan Consulate General consular district of Hubei, Hunan, Henan, and Jiangxi.

#######

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2009

U.S.-China Joint Statement
November 17, 2009
Beijing, China

 
At the invitation of President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China, President Barack Obama of the United States of America is paying a state visit to China from November 15–18, 2009.  The Presidents held in-depth, productive and candid discussions on U.S.-China relations and other issues of mutual interest.  They highlighted the substantial progress in U.S.-China relations over the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, and they reached agreement to advance U.S.-China relations in the new era.  President Obama will have separate meetings with Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Premier Wen Jiabao. President Obama also spoke with and answered questions from Chinese youth.
 
I.          The U.S.-China Relationship
 
The United States and China agreed that regular exchanges between leaders of the two countries are essential to the long-term, sound, and steady growth of U.S.-China relations.  The two sides are of the view that the three meetings between the two presidents and other important bilateral exchanges this year have strengthened relations.  President Obama invited President Hu to make a visit to the United States next year, and President Hu accepted the invitation with pleasure.  Leaders of the two countries will continue to maintain close communication through mutual visits, meetings, telephone conversations and correspondence. 
 

  >>The Full Text<<

U.S. Ambassador Huntsman Congratulates China on the 60^th Anniversary

Ambassador Huntsman Congratulates China on the 60th Anniversary (Video clip @ youku.com)

Ambassador Huntsman: "Congratulations to the People’s Republic of China on the 60^th anniversary of its founding.  In the last 30 years, China has undergone an extraordinary economic transformation, lifting millions of people out of poverty.   This is truly an extraordinary and historic accomplishment.

We are also pleased that this year marks the 30^th anniversary of U.S.-PRC diplomatic relations.  As President Obama said, history has shown that our two countries benefit from engagement that is grounded in mutual interest and respect.  I am pleased that today we are working hard to build the kind of positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship that reflects the deepening ties between our people and that will allow us to realize the common interests of our two nations.

I look forward to working with you in the years ahead as you begin the next 60 years of your historic journey as a nation."  (Video)