Clinton China tour kicks off

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton holds talks with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Beijing on February 21.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shook hands with China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Beijing on Saturday morning.

Later in the day, Clinton will meet with China's president Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao.

Speaking before her departure for Beijing, Clinton said the global economic crisis, climate change and security challenges such as the North Korean nuclear weapons programme are the top priorities of her visit.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON SAYING:

"It is imperative that the United States and China cooperate on a range of issues from the economy to global climate change."

Clinton arrived in Beijing on Friday (February 20) evening on a three-day visit that will wrap up her first international tour as Secretary of State.

This is her first trip to China since she accompanied her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton on a visit a decade ago.

Having visited Tokyo, Jakarta and Seoul on her week-long Asia tour, Clinton hoped to sound out what more the Chinese leadership planned to do to push North Korea to abandon its nuclear programmes.

Kitty Bu reporting for Reuters in Beijing.