Hillary Clinton touches down for Pacific Forum
KATE CHAPMAN/Fairfax NZ
HILLARY CLINTON :The United States Secretary of State greets American nuns from Daughters of Charity outside Trader Jacks restaurant, Rarotonga,Cook Islands.
It seems like God really does bless America, in the Cook Islands at least.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton touched down in Rarotonga last night to a full Pacific welcome.
This morning she had her first official appearance - breakfast with Pacific leaders at popular watering hole Trader Jacks.
As she descended from her white SUV, Mrs Clinton told waiting media that she was so pleased to be here and talking about the issues that mattered for the Pacific.
She said she thoroughly enjoyed the performance of the dancers and drummers who welcomed her at the airport last night.
"I'm afraid half of my team will not want to go on to the next stop," she said.
Mrs Clinton was halfway up the stairs into the restaurant when a group of visiting American nuns called out "God bless America" from the path outside.
"I'll come and say hello," she called out.
And so she did.
Mrs Clinton, dressed in an orange pant suit, made her way over to the nuns and thanked them for their service.
Californian Sister Margory Ann Baez said it was a great privilege to meet the Secretary and something they wouldn't have been able to do in the United States.
Sister Kathleen Appler agreed.
"That we could just walk in, by chance. I've never had thischance in the United States."
The Daughters of Charity St Vincent de Paul nuns are in the Cook Islands for five days visiting two woman who are posted here.
Inside Mrs Clinton had a photo with representatives from the 15 Pacific Islands Forum countries.
There was a breakfast spread of fresh fruit, croissants, muffins and mini-pi! es.
< p>As Mrs Clinton's plane touched down last night the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai was facing questions about competition between the two giants in the Pacific.In a late night press conference he told media that China was here to "respond to the priorities and concerns of the island countries themselves.
"We are here in this region not to seek any particular influence, still less dominance."
Asked whether Mrs Clinton's presence was a response to concerns aboutgrowing Chinese influence in the region, Mr Cui said we should ask her.
"Secretary Clinton is arriving in a short while. You can ask her this question. I'm not her spokesperson."
China was not in the Pacific to compete with anybody, he said.
Earlier this week Prime Minister John Key raised eyebrows when he said China had "growing tentacles" around the world.
Mr Cui said he had met with Mr Key and he was "very friendly".
Mrs Clinton and Mr Cui are in the Cook Islands to participate in the post-forum dialogue today.
Mr Key was not at the breakfast this morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully went instead.
- Fairfax NZ News