Secretary Clinton: Measures to Increase Pressure on Iran **Video**

Measures to Increase Pressure on Iran

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Secretary of Treasury Tim Geithner

Treaty Room

Washington, DC

November 21, 2011

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SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good afternoon, everyone. I am delighted to welcome Secretary Geithner here to the Treaty Room of the State Department, and I also welcome his team and thank my team for the work that they have been doing with respect to Iran.
Recent days have brought new evidence that Iran’s leaders continue to defy their international obligations and violate international norms, including the recent plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador here in the United States and as verified by the new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency that further documents Iran’s conduct of activities directly related to the development of nuclear weapons. Now, this report from the IAEA is not the United States or our European partners making accusations; this is the result of an independent review and it reflects the judgment of the international community.
There have to be consequences for such behavior. So on Friday, Iran was condemned in votes at the UN in New York and at the IAEA in Vienna. And earlier today, the UN General Assembly again strongly reprimanded Iran for continuing human rights abuses, persecution of minorities, and forcible restrictions on political freedom. The message is clear: If Iran’s intransigence continues, it will face increasing pressure and isolation.
Today the United States is taking a series of steps to sharpen this choice.
First, President Obama signed an Executive Order that, for the first time, specifically targets Iran’s petrochemical industry, a significant source of export revenues and a cover for imports for sanctioned activities. This will allow us to sanction the provision of goods, services, and technology to the petrochemical sector. To accompany this new measure, we will launch a worldwide diplomatic campaign to encourage other countries to shift any purchases of Iranian petrochemical products to other suppliers.
Second, in the same Executive Order, we are expanding sanctions on Iran’s oil and gas business. U.S. law already sanctions large-scale investments in up-stream exploration and development of oil and gas, and now it will also be sanctionable to provide goods, services, and technology for those activities as well. This will make it more difficult for Iran to work around the sanctions and will further impede efforts to maintain and modernize its oil and gas sector.
Third, under an existing Executive Order, we are designating a number of individuals and entities
for their roles in assisting Iran’s prohibited nuclear programs, including its enrichment and heavy water programs. Their assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction will be frozen and American individuals and entities will be prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them.
And finally, as Secretary Geithner will discuss in more detail, the Treasury Department is formally identifying Iran as a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern. This is the strongest official warning we can give that any transaction with Iran poses serious risks of deception or diversion.
These steps were accompanied today by complementary measures by the UK and Canada, and we expect additional sanctions by other international partners in the days ahead.
Together, these measures represent a significant ratcheting up of pressure on Iran, its sources of income, and its illegal activities. They build on an extensive existing sanctions regime put into place by the UN Security Council and a large number of countries, including our own, acting nationally and multilaterally to implement the Council’s measures. And these sanctions are already having a dramatic effect. They have almost completely isolated Iran from the international financial sector and have made it very risky and costly a place to do business.
Most of the world’s major energy companies have left, undermining Iran’s efforts to boost its declining oil production, its main source of revenues. Iran has found it much more difficult to operate its national airline and shipping companies, and to procure equipment and technology for its prohibited weapons programs. And those individuals and organizations responsible for terrorism and human rights abuses, including the Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Qods Force, have been specifically targeted.
The impact will only grow unless Iran’s leaders decide to change course and meet their international obligations. And let me be clear: Today’s actions do not exhaust our opportunities to sanction Iran. We continue actively to consider a range of increasingly aggressive measures. We have worked closely with Congress and have put to effective use the legislative tools they have provided. We are committed to continuing our collaboration to develop additional sanctions that will have the effect we all want: putting strong pressure on Iran.
Now, the Administration’s dual-track strategy is not only about pressure. It is also about engaging Iran, engagement that would be aimed at resolving the international community’s serious and growing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. And the United States is committed to engagement, but only – and I say only – if Iran is prepared to engage seriously and concretely without preconditions. So far, we have seen little indication that Iran is serious about negotiations on its nuclear program. And until we do, and until Iran’s leaders live up to their international obligations, they will face increasing consequences.
Now I would like to invite Secretary Geithner to explain in more depth how some of these sanctions will be working.
Tim.
SECRETARY GEITHNER: Thank you, Secretary Clinton, and my compliments also to your colleagues and to ours – to mine, led by David Cohen and Danny Glaser, for doing such a great job today on these very significant financial actions.
Since the President came into office, this Administration has executed a very aggressive strategy to stop Iran’s illicit activities. A key part of this strategy has been to impose overwhelming financial pressure on Iran, and because of this strategy, Iran has been subjected to new and damaging levels of financial and commercial isolation.
First, we have dramatically reduced Iran’s access to the international financial system. Iranian banks are losing the ability to do business around the world, which in turn has reduced the ability of the government to finance activities opposed by the international community.
Second, Iran’s national shipping line, which has transported material in support of Iran’s missile program, is now shut off from many of the world’s major ports and routinely finds its ships seized or turned away.
And third, Iran’s primary source of revenue, its oil sector, is in decline because it cannot attract the foreign investment that it desperately needs to maintain levels of production.
Together, the intensification of sanctions by this Administration, alongside our partners around the world, has inflicted substantial damage to the Iranian economy. To continue these efforts, the Treasury Department today is designating additional entities for their support of Iran’s nuclear and proliferation-related activities.
Today, we are taking the very significant step of acting under Section 311 of the Patriot Act. For the first time, we are identifying the entire Iranian banking sector, including the Central Bank of Iran, as a threat to governments or financial institutions that do business with Iranian banks. If you are a financial institutions anywhere in the world and you engage in any transaction involving Iran’s central bank or any other Iranian bank operating inside or outside Iran, then you are at risk of supporting Iran’s illicit activities: its support – its pursuit of nuclear weapons, its support for terrorism, and its efforts to deceive responsible financial institutions and to evade sanctions. Any and every financial transaction with Iran poses grave risk of supporting those activities, so financial institutions around the world should think hard about the risks of doing business with Iran.
We are taking this action, as the Secretary said, alongside our partners in the United Kingdom and Canada, who announced earlier today that they were implementing similar measures to insulate their banks from Iran. And as a result of this coordinated effort, Iran is now cut off from three of the world’s largest financial sectors. We encourage other leaders around the world to take forceful steps like these actions to prevent Iran from simply shifting financial activity to banks within their nations.
As we put these new measures in place and as we continue to work to expand their reach around the world, we will continue to explore other measures. No option is off the table, including the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran. The policies Iran is pursuing are unacceptable, and until Iran’s leadership agrees to abandon this dangerous course, we will continue to use tough and innovative means to impose severe economic and financial consequences on Iran’s leadership.
Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much.

Secretaries Clinton & Geithner: Joint Statement on Iran Sanctions

Joint Statement on Iran Sanctions

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 23, 2011

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The following is the text of a joint statement by U.S. Department of State Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Iran sanctions.

Begin text:

Today, the United States imposed sanctions on Tidewater Middle East Company, an operator of Iranian ports owned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that has links to Iranian proliferation activities. We also imposed sanctions against Iran Air, which was designated for providing material support and services to the IRGC and Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), and also has facilitated proliferation-related activities. Today’s sanctions also exposed an Iranian individual and entity for their ties to a company that provided support and weapons to Hizballah on behalf of the IRGC.

The IRGC’s illicit activities and its increasing displacement of the legitimate Iranian private sector in major strategic industries, including in the commercial and energy sectors, are deeply troubling. The IRGC also serves as the domestic “enforcer” for the Iranian regime, continues to play an important proliferation role by orchestrating the import and export of prohibited items to and from Iran, is involved in support of terrorism throughout the region, and is responsible for serious human rights abuses against peaceful Iranian protestors and other opposition participants.

Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons is a top U.S. Government priority and we remain deeply concerned about Iran’s nuclear intentions. The United States is committed to a dual-track policy of applying pressure in pursuit of constructive engagement, and a negotiated solution.

On June 9, 2011, the P5+1 countries (China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States) reaffirmed their concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and their commitment to a diplomatic solution in their statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors. Many other governments have also expressed serious concerns about the behavior and policies of the Iranian leadership and have urged Iran to change course and seek a path of negotiation. Yet, in the face of this unified international message, Iran has continued to violate its international obligations and disregard our attempts to start meaningful negotiations over its nuclear program.

For this reason, the United States is convinced that the international community must continue to increase and broaden the scope of pressures on Iran. We welcome steps such as the European Union’s designation of more than 100 entities and individuals last month and the improved implementation of sanctions against Iran that we are seeing around the world.

This month, the United States amplified our sanctions against Iran’s leadership through a comprehensive initiative aimed at Iran’s dangerous behavior--its continued proliferation activities, its human rights abuses, and its destabilizing activities in the region.

On June 9, we sanctioned the Iranian security forces for human rights abuses. Earlier this week, we continued our efforts against the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), which the UN Security Council 1737 Sanctions Committee noted has been involved in several violations of UN Security Council resolutions on Iran.

The steps we have taken this week seek to limit Iran’s ability to use the global financial system to pursue illicit activities. We have made important progress in isolating Iran, but we cannot waver. Our efforts must be unrelenting to sharpen the choice for Iran’s leaders to abandon their dangerous course.

The United States and our partners remain fully committed to a diplomatic solution with Iran. However, until Iran is prepared to engage seriously with us on such a solution, we will continue to increase pressure against Iranian entities of concern.

Secretary Clinton's Interview With Anthony Yuen of Phoenix TV

Interview With Anthony Yuen of Phoenix TV

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner; Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan; Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo

Washington, DC

May 10, 2011

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QUESTION: Madam, the annual dialogue is over, so what can you tell us what we accomplished this time?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Mr. Yuen, let me start by expressing deep appreciation for these dialogues. For the last three years, as you know, we have held them – two in Washington, one in Beijing – next year we will be Beijing again. And there are very specific outcomes, agreements that are signed, particularly on promoting scientific research, on improving our cooperation in everything from clean energy to agricultural productivity. On the economic side, similarly, a lot of progress in making sure that Chinese businesses in the United States and American businesses in China have a chance to invest and compete.

But in addition to the specific outcome, what I am particularly pleased about is I believe we have developed greater understanding of one another and more trust. Ever since President Obama came into office, he and I have said that we support China’s successful rise. We think a successful, thriving China is good for the United States. We will have differences and disagreements. We are two very different people, and we have different histories. But overall, I think we have charted a very positive path forward.

QUESTION: You – I watch you at the – on the opening day, your speech. You keep on saying that we have to build up the mutual trust between our two countries. So after this meeting, after the two previous meeting, do you think we already build up those kind of trusts you’re trying to achieve?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I believe we have. And I think from the comments of my Chinese counterpart, State Councilor Dai Bingguo as well as Secretary Geithner and Vice Premier Wang, we all feel that we have delved into these issues quite deeply. And we have been willing to express to one another what we don’t understand – Why do the Chinese people feel this way; why do the American people do that?

And during the course of my extensive meetings in the strategic track, I think we have crossed a bridge so that we are willing to discuss at great length difficult, sensitive matters. In fact, for the first time ever, we had a special meeting that included military and civilian officials talking about strategic security issues. We don’t want misunderstanding and miscalculation. Where we have a difference, we want to be very clear about that difference so that there’s no confusion. And I think that creates a greater level of both understanding and trust.

QUESTION: So this morning I read all the major newspapers in this country. Essential to them, and I think as well as in China – they all focus on this is first time the military ranking – high-ranking military office meet each other. Is this a special meaning for us in the future?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I think it’s a very important development, because we want to be sure that as our governments on the civilian side take the time to really listen to each other, we do the same on the military-to-military side. We know that China has such tremendous potential, not just economically but also militarily. And we want to avoid miscalculation there as well. From the report that State Councilor Dai Bingguo and I received from the two leaders of the strategic security dialogue, it seemed as though they had quite a satisfactory conversation. It’s just a beginning, but one has to start somewhere, because we want to make sure that there are no surprises, there is an understanding of the positions that each of us takes, and where there can be cooperation we pursue it.

For example, one of the issues we’re beginning to discuss is with respect to disasters. We’ve had some terrible natural disasters in East Asia, earthquakes in China, Japan, New Zealand, flooding, terrible storms. And one could perhaps argue that the disasters are more intense because of changes in weather patterns. So how do we jointly plan on that? And I think both of use a combination of civilian and military resources.

QUESTION: Right.

SECRETARY CLINTON: So here’s an area where perhaps we can cooperate.

QUESTION: How about the (inaudible) of military exercise? Are we going to have – in the future, we have agenda or schedule to make the joint military exercise together?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I think certainly that could be on a future agenda, that there would be an opportunity to discuss that. But we had to start, and I think that was a good start today.

QUESTION: So for the past few years, I keep on listen – watching your speech. You’re always trying to convince Chinese people and government that United States not going to contain China. From your experience when you talk to those Chinese officials, are they being convinced by this?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I think that there’s a lot more understanding and confidence in our intentions and our action. State Councilor Dai Bingguo and I had a very interesting conversation, because he was explaining to me some of the many reasons why he believes that China should not fear the United States and why the United States should not fear China. I agree with that. But we are both large, complex countries, and we have many voices and many interests. We know that China has done a tremendous job in the last 40 years in lifting people out of poverty. We think that’s good for us, so we want to see that continue. At the same time, we want to see China’s economic system and its market become more open.

So we talk about that, and I know China doesn’t want to do anything that in any way interrupts the peaceful rise and the development of the Chinese people. But we make the case that opening up one’s market will actually benefit people. Well, so we have our point of view; the Chinese express their point of view, but that should not be viewed as any kind of interference from either side. We want to just put out all of our observations, and each country is, of course, always having the right to choose one’s own course.

We talk very, very openly about the problems that we’ve got in our economy and our political system that we have to pay attention to, and why, when we have economic problems, there is naturally going to be some concern on the part of some Americans about China’s economic success. So we try to make sure that everybody understands the different point of view.

QUESTION: In the past few years in that program, I was convince – try to convince the Chinese people, saying that criticize always come from good friends. You don’t think, this president is my good friend; I don’t try to criticize him, I don’t – I just want to – so we’re basically – so did you try, from your part, to convince Chinese people, hey, look, I am – you’re a good friend, so I criticize you?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think you’re right. I think that if you are indifferent to someone, you don’t even worry about that person. You could care less. You don’t want to have anything to do with them. I am very committed to our relationship, not only our government-to-government relationship but, even more importantly, our people-to-people relationship. And I think it’s gone in a very positive direction in the past years.

But at the same time, we have internal opinions, values, interests, just like China does. So we will say we’re not always going to agree, and we do have some questions and some criticism, which we’re happy to share with you in the hope that you will better understand us and maybe it will give you some ideas.

And I remember my first trip to China as Secretary of State. It was in the midst of the financial crisis. And Chinese friends had many critical things to say about our regulatory system, our economic system. And it was good not to pretend otherwise but to say, how did this happen, why did this happen, what are you going to do to fix it. So we’ve had, I think, a very good and friendly exchange.

Now, sometimes the media paints it as something other than part of the ongoing dialogue. And what I have told Americans is we will, for example, raise questions about human rights, but that doesn’t prevent us from working on critical issues that will determine the quality of life that people lead. How do we keep our economies growing? If the United States and China don’t cooperate, the world will suffer. How do we deal with climate change? How do we deal with energy? How do we deal with all of these issues – food security, clean water – which are critically important to the people that we both represent? So it’s not either/or. It’s a combination. It is, as both President Hu Jintao and President Obama said, we want a positive, cooperative, and comprehensive relationship.

QUESTION: I remember when once I read an article from your New York Times. It says you consider China as a banker, banker of United States. So you always trying to make this banker build up a closer relationship between United States and the banker. So for the past years, do you think we approach closer?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I do. And I remember when I said that. It was back in my campaign for president. And that was a criticism of my own government and my own political system; that when my husband left the presidency, the United States had a balanced budget and a surplus, and we were on a path to financial independence. For many reasons, at this point in time, we are deeply in debt, we run big deficits, and it’s deeply disturbing to many Americans.

So what I was pointing out is that we had, in effect, not just to China – we have Japan, European, we have many countries that have faith in the American economy and have bought American debt, but I prefer that we be more independent. I think it’s a better path for a nation. That’s not a reflection on our respect for China or Japan or Europe or anyone else.

So that was actually a criticism of my own country, but I think you are right to point out that we have worked hard in the Obama Administration to avoid what could have been an awkward relationship, where we were in a very difficult economic position and we did owe a lot of money to China, and we did have to figure out how to get the global economy going. And I really give both President Hu Jintao and President Obama a lot credit, because it could have been easy for Americans to overreact or for Chinese officials to say well, we’re not going to work together. But instead, they rose above the politics in both countries and they provided great leadership. And now, we are on the brink of moving away from the worst of the financial crisis which, if we had not worked together, could’ve become another Great Depression.

QUESTION: Right. One of the obstacle bothers our relationship is Taiwan –

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.

QUESTION: -- arm sales to Taiwan. And recently, before I come here, I read an article from the – a Taiwanese newspaper saying that they are going to give up the compulsory military service in – and replace with the enlisting system, so they give money. It’s fund – allocated money into that system now, so they want to delay maybe two or three years to purchasing these weapons or the military equipment from United States. What this shows to you?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I’m not aware of that recent report, but we are committed to a one China policy. And in our dialogue, I expressed respect for the way that China has been creating more positive feelings and more cross-strait economic and other activities so that the relationship between China and Taiwan, it appears, is on a much better basis. And what we have continued to stress is that we want to see an improvement in China-Taiwan relations, and it is important for both sides to work together. But our position has always been based on the three communiqués and the Taiwan Relations Act, and it has not changed and it will not change.

QUESTION: And, for example, the people in Taiwan, including Ma Ying – President Ma Ying-jeou said that according to their constitution, they’ve been already independent. They don’t have to declare independence anymore. So in this case, what’s your position, in the U.S. position?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Our position is still the one China policy, and it will remain that. Now, we don’t take a position on Taiwan elections or Taiwan political statements. That’s for the Taiwanese people. But we do believe that the more there can be cooperative arrangements, like the recent economic agreements that were reached between Taiwan and China, the better that is for everyone.

QUESTION: One last question I want to ask you, otherwise my female audience will complain. (Laughter.) They keep on asking me, said if you have chance to ask Mrs. Clinton – how do you balance your public life, a good politician, and your private life as a wife and first lady or mother of Chelsea?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, it is a difficult question for any woman to answer, I think, Mr. Yuen. I think that the truth is that we all balance in our own way, and it depends upon what stage of life you’re in. I will be very honest with you in saying that it would have been impossible for me to do this job if my daughter were not already an adult and now a very happily married young woman. I could not have been away as much if I had had small children. You just have to try to balance where you are in your life.

And for young women with children, I often tell them that their most important job, once they have children, is the raising of their children. I am a strong supporter of women being able to work in the workplace and being able to make good decisions for themselves. I would like to see both of our countries do more to help more women in the workplace.

But women in my lifetime have certainly seen their opportunities expand. More young women are now in positions that had never been held by women before, so more young women will be working to balance their family responsibilities with their outside requirements, whether it’s in the workplace or in some other academic or athletic or entertainment pursuit.

And I guess the final thing I would say about that is I’m a very lucky person because I have been able to practice law, to be a law professor, to be a fulltime volunteer when my husband was president, to be a senator, to be a secretary of state. And I have a great commitment to helping more women have the opportunity to make the best decisions for themselves. And one of the aspects of the dialogue is this new women leadership program that we have started, so that I will be meeting with a large number of women leaders from China and women leaders from the United States. And when women in positions of responsibility get together, we often talk about what are the tricks for balancing family and work. And I know how lucky I am that I’ve had these opportunities, but I want more women, particularly young women, to have the same choices.

QUESTION: But do President Clinton and Chelsea complain you don’t give them more time?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, my husband’s pretty busy too, and my daughter is very busy, so we find as much time together as possible. We have a home in New York where we love to spend time together. We were just together over the past weekend for Mother’s Day. We talk on the phone, we email a lot. And I had the wonderful experience last summer of working on my daughter’s wedding. So I will, when I retire from this position, have much more time. But right now I work for as much time together as I possibly could schedule.

QUESTION: Thank you very much, Madam. Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. It’s wonderful to talk with you. Thank you.

SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON: Public schedule for May 10, 2011

Public schedule for May 10, 2011

Public Schedule

Washington, DC

May 10, 2011

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SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON:
Secretary Clinton and Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner co-host the third annual U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) with their counterparts, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo, in Washington, DC. Click here for more information.

9:25 a.m. Secretary Clinton delivers remarks at the signing ceremony for six new U.S.-China EcoPartnerships, at the Department of State.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

9:45 a.m. Secretary Clinton leads the S&ED Strategic Track Small Group Session II with State Councilor Dai, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

11:50 a.m. Secretary Clinton participates in the Inaugural Meeting of the Advisory Committee for the 100,000 Strong Initiative, in the Loy Henderson Auditorium at the Department of State.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

12:15 p.m. Secretary Clinton and Secretary Geithner co-host a luncheon with Vice Premier Wang, State Councilor Dai and U.S. and Chinese business leaders, at Blair House.
(POOLED CAMERA SPRAY)

2:15 p.m. Secretary Clinton, Secretary Geithner, Vice Premier Wang and State Councilor Dai deliver joint closing remarks for the S&ED, in the Department of the Interior’s Sidney R. Yates Auditorium.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE FOR S&ED CREDENTIALED MEDIA)
WATCH LIVE ON WWW.STATE.GOV.

2:50 p.m. Secretary Clinton and Secretary Geithner hold a joint press availability, in the Department of the Interior’s Sidney R. Yates Auditorium.
WATCH LIVE ON WWW.STATE.GOV.

5:15 p.m. Secretary Clinton meets with Secretary of Defense Bob Gates and National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

6:35 p.m. Secretary Clinton attends a dinner co-hosted by Ambassador Verveer and Muhtar Kent of Coca-Cola in honor of the Chinese delegation to Women-LEAD, an initiative sponsored by Yale University under the auspices of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, at the Metropolitan Club in Washington, DC.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON: Public Schedule for May 9, 2011

Public Schedule for May 9, 2011

Public Schedule

Washington, DC

May 9, 2011

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SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON:
Secretary Clinton and Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner co-host the third annual U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) with their counterparts, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo, in Washington, DC. Click here for more information.

9:15 a.m. Secretary Clinton delivers remarks at the Opening Session of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), in the Department of the Interior’s Sidney R. Yates Auditorium.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE FOR S&ED CREDENTIALED MEDIA)
Watch live on www.state.gov.

10:10 a.m. Secretary Clinton welcomes State Councilor Dai upon his arrival in the C Street Lobby of the Department of State.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

10:15 a.m. Secretary Clinton leads the S&ED Strategic Track Small Group Session I with State Councilor Dai, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

12:15 p.m. Secretary Clinton hosts a working luncheon with State Councilor Dai and participants in the S&ED Strategic Track, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:15 p.m. Secretary Clinton leads the S&ED Strategic Track Plenary Session I on enhancing U.S.-China cooperation with State Councilor Dai, in the Loy Henderson Auditorium at the Department of State.

4:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton participates in the S&ED Strategic Track Plenary Session II on cooperation on regional global issues led by State Councilor Dai, in the Loy Henderson Auditorium at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

6:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton, Secretary Geithner, Vice Premier Wang and State Councilor Dai meet with President Obama, at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

7:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton participates in an official photograph with Vice Premier Wang, State Councilor Dai, Secretary Geithner and senior members of the U.S. and Chinese delegations, at the Department of State.
(POOLED CAMERA SPRAY)

7:15 p.m. Secretary Clinton and Secretary Geithner co-host a banquet for Vice Premier Wang, State Councilor Dai and the Chinese delegation, at the Department of State.
(POOLED PRESS COVERAGE FOR OPENING REMARKS)

This Week: On Hillary Clinton's Agenda

Well, for this one time in my career as a Hillary blogger, I have a schedule of her week ahead! (Not that I actually receive a week ahead schedule. I am apparently too frivolous, or unpredictable, or otherwise untrustworthy for that.) This schedule is pasted together from various press releases. I'll take it!

2011 U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue

Washington, DC

May 5, 2011

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Hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, the third joint meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue will be held in Washington, D.C. from May 9-10, 2011.

Secretary Clinton to Deliver Remarks at the 41st Conference on the Americas on May 11

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

May 5, 2011

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver remarks at the 41^st Washington Conference on the Americas, co-hosted by the U.S. Department of State and Council of the Americas, at approximately 9:20 a.m. on May 11, 2011, at the U.S. Department of State.

This year’s conference, “Opportunities in a Changing Americas,” will also feature remarks by President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa of Mexico, President Mauricio Funes of El Salvador, Minister of Finance Juan Carlos Echeverry of Colombia, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senator John McCain of Arizona and Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela. The full program can be found here.

Morning Session with Remarks by Secretary Clinton: 8:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Luncheon Session with Remarks by Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Secretary Clinton Travels to Nuuk, Greenland for Arctic Council Ministerial

Press Statement

Mark C. Toner
Acting Deputy SpokesmanOffice of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

May 6, 2011

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Nuuk, Greenland May 11-12 with Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to participate in the Seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council.

The Arctic Council is composed of the eight Arctic states, with involvement of Arctic indigenous groups, and is the pre-eminent intergovernmental forum for cooperation in the Arctic. At this meeting, Secretary Clinton will sign an Arctic Search and Rescue Agreement, the first binding international agreement among the eight Arctic States and an important step in saving lives in the region.

Secretary Clinton Q&A with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner in Beijing

Q&A with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner in Beijing

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Beijing, China

May 25, 2010

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MODERATOR: Hi, everybody. Since the Secretary just gave statements at her previous events, we’ll go right to questions, starting with Mike Landler of the New York Times.

QUESTION: Good afternoon. Madam Secretary, what specific steps or measures did the Chinese agree to in terms of an international response to North Korea over the sinking of the South Korean warship? And does China’s apparent neutrality in this matter raise concerns with you about the role China is playing in regional security? Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Mark, let me start by saying that we had very productive and detailed discussions about North Korea starting on Sunday night and going through today. The Chinese understand the gravity of this situation. And Premier Wen will be traveling to the Republic of Korea on Friday to consult with President Lee. Both Premier Wen and President Hu Jintao expressed their deep regrets over the loss of life that came from this incident, the sinking of the Cheonan naval vessel. We pledged to stay in very close consultation. I told them I was going to South Korea tomorrow for consultations with both President Lee and Foreign Minster Yu. And we will be reporting to the Chinese the results of our consultations and then we will be discussing with them the results of Premier Wen’s visit on Friday.

We expect to be working together with China in responding to North Korea’s provocative action, and promoting stability in the region. I think it is absolutely clear that China not only values but is very committed to regional stability, and it shares with us the goal of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and a period of careful consideration in order to determine the best way forward in dealing with North Korea as a result of this latest incident.

I believe that President Lee has conducted himself in a very statesmanlike manner and he has put forth very prudent measures that he hopes the international community will pursue. And I look forward to consulting with both the Republic of Korea and China in the days ahead.

MODERATOR: The next question will be from Glenn Somerville of Reuters.

QUESTION: Secretary Geithner, in your closing statement, you said that U.S. and China have agreed to support the financial reforms and the financial efforts that Europe is making to restore stability. What exactly does that mean? And how might the U.S. and China act to offer that support?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Through the IMF. Obviously, the developments in Europe were part of our conversations over the last several days. But I think you see in China and the United States very encouraging signs of stronger growth, recovery that’s more broad-based – led, of course, by the private sector in the United States. And in China, you’re seeing it translate – you’re seeing it come with a substantial shift in the composition of growth towards growth led by domestic demand. And I think that’s very important to point out because, again, we come to this stage in recovery with a world economy that is in a much stronger position than it was three months ago, six months ago, nine months ago.

But of course, we both have – China and the United States have a strong interest in seeing Europe put in place this very strong program of economic reforms and financial support. And of course, as I like to say all the time, it’s important to understand that Europe has the capacity to manage these challenges. And we’re confident they will.

MODERATOR: The next question is from Matt Lee of the Associated Press, here in the front row.

QUESTION: Well, this is a question for Secretary Clinton. First, I’d like to thank you for mentioning the Buffalo Bills the other day in your speech, in your talks and discussions in Shanghai. (Laughter.)

Secondly, along the lines of Mark’s question but with a differing country, I’m wondering how much, if any, progress you’ve made in dealing with the Chinese on the annexes to the Security Council resolution on Iran and how big a problem naming names in those annexes is toward them, particularly with the amount of investment that they have in Iran. Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Matt, I was delighted to mention that the first Chinese recruit for the NFL will be going to the Buffalo Bills. And that means a lot to some of us because we’re big Buffalo fans, and so happy to shill for you anytime, Matt.

With respect to Iran, we are pleased with the cooperation that we’ve received. We have a P-5+1 consensus, as you know, on the text of a resolution. We’ve had productive discussions on completing the annexes and proceeding to the Security Council with the resolution and annexes. And we discussed at some length the shortcomings of the recent proposal put forward by Iran in its letter to the IAEA. There are a number of deficiencies with it that do not answer the concerns of the international community. There is no recognition of the deep concern people have because of the 20 percent enrichment that Iran is pursuing. There is a recognition on the part of the international community that the agreement that was reached in Tehran a week ago between Iran and Brazil and Turkey only occurred because the Security Council was on the brink of publicly releasing the text of the resolution that we have been negotiating for many weeks. It was a transparent ploy to avoid Security Council action.

And there is a clear choice which Iran faces. It’s been the same choice that it has faced since the Obama Administration undertook its dual-track approach of engaging with Iran and holding in abeyance international pressure. And we are still on a dual track, but we have moved our diplomacy from the P-5+1 context to the Security Council. The Security Council bears the responsibility of enforcing its own resolutions, which have been violated continuously by the Iranians.

And the Security Council has a very clear path forward, which is not the end of diplomacy but, in fact, it is in accordance with the dual track, the addition of international pressure to obtain real results from the Iranians with respect to their nuclear program. There’s a standing invitation from the P-5+1 to begin that discussion about the Iranian nuclear program that has yet to be accepted by the Iranians. So we discussed all of this in great detail with our Chinese friends and we are moving forward to hold Iran accountable.

MODERATOR: The next question is from Rebecca Christie of Bloomberg.

QUESTION: Thanks very much. Mr. Secretary, what is the timeline for when you will need to say something about the foreign exchange report to the Congress? You are required to submit – the Treasury Department is required to submit this report by law. You’ve delayed it by three months. What do you need to say and when?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: That time will come. But Rebecca, I think it’s important to emphasize that we came – we come to this relationship with three very important objectives. One is to see a growing economy in China with growth coming from domestic demand, stronger household income, stronger consumption. Second is to make sure that we’re making progress in making sure that American exporters, American companies operating in China are able to compete on a level playing field. And of course, we want to see China continue on the broad path of reform of its exchange rate system.

And again, it is important to note that what China has undertaken just in this past year has been remarkable. And you’re seeing very substantial increase in economic opportunities for U.S. firms in China, very rapid growth in American exports to China. That’s very important to us, it’s obviously very beneficial to China, and it will make a very important contribution to strengthening this global recovery.

MODERATOR: We have two questions from Chinese friends. The first is Leo Chan from Xinhua.

QUESTION: Okay. First of all, congratulations on the successful conclusion of the Strategic and the Economic Dialogues. And thank you for including – Secretary Clinton, questions for you and the – Secretary Geithner.

So my question is although we never – we should never evaluate the dialogue based on its many accomplishment – agreements to have signed or breakthroughs we have cracked open or the compromises we have made. I want to ask – what we want to know is that – what does the Obama Administration plan to take – what kind of substantial measures or steps the Obama Administration plan to take to implement or carry out the – what we have agreed here during past two days? Thank you very much.

SECRETARY CLINTON: That’s an excellent question, because it is important that we report to the press and through the press to the public, in both China and the United States, about the results of these intensive negotiations. A lot of work goes into them before we ever show up. Secretary Geithner and I have the benefit of a wonderful team of people in both the Treasury Department and the State Department who work with the entire United States Government in order to prepare for these dialogues. And of course, on the Chinese side, the same is true with our counterparts, Vice Premier Wen and State Councilor Dai.

So here are some of the things – and we will prepare a more thorough accounting of the results of the dialogue – but let me put it into three, sort of, categories. One, the high-level discussions that I engaged in on the strategic track and that Secretary Geithner engaged in on the economic track build an enormous amount of understanding and create an environment in which both the United States and China are able to better appreciate the other’s point of view, to work through in an open, candid manner the problems that we are going to encounter, because we’re not going to agree on everything. No two countries possibly could.

And as I said in my statement over at the Great Hall of the People, we got through some rocky periods this past year, I would argue, in part because of the good relationship between President Hu Jintao and President Obama, but also because of the relationship that went down from our presidents into our governments that has been developed over the last 15 months through the Strategic and Economic Dialogue. So it’s intangible, but understanding confidence, trust is a very big result of what we are doing.

Secondly, there are some long-term problems that we are tackling. Many of the issues that we are addressing are in the headlines. You just heard questions about some of them – North Korea and Iran, currency. Those are in the headlines. And we want the people of both of our countries to know that we’re working together, we are taking action together, and we are attempting to deal with global and regional instability on either the economic or the security and strategic front. So each of those difficult problems is being given an enormous amount of attention.

But finally, there is so much more work that’s going on every single day because of these dialogues. Those of you who saw the signing ceremonies saw a number of memoranda of understandings signed. Each of those represents months of work and consultation between our respective governments. I mentioned one of them, the first time ever that American experts and Chinese experts will work to develop China’s natural gas resources. Imagine what it would mean for China if China unleashed its own natural gas resources so you are not dependent on foreign oil, particularly from such a difficult area as Iran.

So working together to try to enhance China’s energy independence is not something that’s going to happen next week or maybe even not next year. But the process that we are doing together is a very strong example of our long-term commitment to each other. Similarly, the agreement today to send a hundred thousand more American students to China over the next four years to study Mandarin, to learn more about your country, is a very tangible result of the dialogue. We want to build people-to-people connections and more exchanges at all levels of society.

So we will give you a full accounting with all of the health agreements and the education agreements, the customs agreements, the energy agreements, the science and technology agreements. There’s a very long list. Some of them will have immediate impact and benefits, some in the medium-term, and some are long-term investments that come out of our long-term commitment to the relationship.

MODERATOR: And the final question will come from John (inaudible) of The Economic Observer.

QUESTION: My question is to you, Secretary Geithner. And U.S. side of press are very hard to Chinese to make sure that U.S. ventures can enjoy the equal opportunities to business in Chinese national and make some progress in the GPA issues. I want to know will U.S. improve its policies to make sure Chinese companies investing U.S. and (inaudible) equal opportunities?

The second question is that – the spreading European debt crisis could – U.S. public financial situation again in the spotlight. What did you tell your largest debt holders that they can assure that they are – U.S. (inaudible) is safe? Thank you.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: The answer to your first question is yes. But I want to underscore the point you began with, which is to say that our colleagues – Ambassador Kirk, Secretary Locke, Minister Chen – worked very hard to make some changes, important changes to China’s announced policies to promote indigenous innovation in response to the concerns raised by the American side and by businesses in many other countries as well. And they agreed to a set of very important, clear principles – principles of nondiscrimination – and they agreed on a very carefully designed, detailed process that’ll bring all the right people to the table over the next few weeks and months to see if we can make further progress in the months ahead.

Again, this is very important, because just as China wants to face growing opportunities in the U.S. market, American firms – and we want to be able to demonstrate confidence that American firms are going to face a level playing field with expanding opportunities in the Chinese market – and I think what my – or our colleagues accomplished in these last few weeks is much – is a very important, positive set of principles and a process for moving forward to build on the changes China’s already made to try to be responsive to these concerns.

On your second question, my – our Chinese counterparts have a very sophisticated understanding of the framework we’ve put in place as our economy recovers to bring our fiscal position back to a more sustainable level. And I want to underscore the following: If you watched the arc of this crisis over the last 15 months or so, at times when the world was most worried about financial stability, most worried about the path of economic growth and activity, investors around the world sought the safety and security and liquidity of U.S. financial assets. And you saw – and you still see it now – anytime you see a measure of caution reintroduced into markets, you see investors still looking for the basic safety and liquidity those markets offer the world.

And that is a sign of confidence that the United States, as it has in the past, will move with care and force and effectiveness to address the challenges we face. And you see us moving now. Look how quickly we moved to try to repair the damage in our financial system, to strengthen the basic financial position of U.S. financial institutions, to lay out a framework of very comprehensive financial reforms to try to make sure we’re creating a more resilient U.S. financial system, and to try to make sure that the U.S. will be a source of growth and stability to the global economy in the months ahead and the years ahead.

MODERATOR: Thank you all.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Thank you very much.

# # #

I just have to add: I love her face any which way, but this look is one of her cutest.

INTERVIEW Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner with Chen Luyu of Phoenix TV

I have been looking for a video of this for days, but at least we have the transcript. I will add the video should it become available.

Interview With Chen Luyu of Phoenix TV

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner

Beijing, China

May 23, 2010

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For immediate release and posting:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release: May 24, 2010

INTERVIEW

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner
with Chen Luyu of Phoenix TV

May 23, 2010
JW Marriott
Beijing, China

QUESTION: So, tell me. How do you feel before the strategic and economic dialogue starts tomorrow? How do you feel right now?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I feel very good. We have worked hard with our Chinese counterparts in the government over the last year and some months, ever since the Obama Administration started. And both Tim and I are committed to trying to create conditions for the positive and cooperative and comprehensive relationship that we both have pledged to pursue. And I think we recognize that it takes a lot of hard work. But we have seen some very important areas of cooperation. We know we will not agree on everything. But we think the fact that we are constantly consulting and openly discussing a lot of these issues is a very, very good development.

QUESTION: And you, Secretary, how do you feel right now?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I agree. I think our relationship is very strong, and we are here to make it stronger. And I think we have had a remarkably successful first year, trying to build a strong relationship, and lots to show for it already.

QUESTION: Okay.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: And our hosts are -- have been remarkably gracious with us. And we look forward to these two days of candid, open talks about things that are important to both countries.

You know, we each have core interests important to us, but we share a lot of common interests. And our job is to strengthen those areas of common interest.

QUESTION: I'm sure there are quite a few goals that you want to achieve during this round of dialogue. In the order of importance, what is the most important thing, the goal that you want to achieve, in your perspective, point of view?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think it's what Tim said. We want to take what is a positive relationship and make it more so. It's strong, but it can be stronger. And there are many specific issues that we will be discussing. In fact, we have the largest delegation of American Government officials I think ever to come to a meeting anywhere in the world, over 200.

So, it's not just the issues that are in the headlines that are important, like North Korea or Iran, the economy, you know, those -- your viewers, everyone knows we want to be talking about. But we will also be talking about more cooperation in health care, and in education, and looking for ways to have more people-to-people connections. Because, as important as the government-to-government work is that we both are doing, creating a strong foundation where the American and Chinese people get to know each other better, find ways to cooperate, we think that is the platform for the future.

QUESTION: Okay. And you, what is your number one goal that you really want to achieve?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I think the most important thing on the economic side is to make sure we're working together to strengthen this global recovery. That's what is going to be most important to the citizens of both our countries. We want to work together to make sure we're expanding opportunities in our economic relationship, and working closely to make sure that the world economy is growing together.

But I think what the Secretary of State said is very important. You know, she spent a few days in Shanghai on the way here. I am meeting with a bunch of Chinese chief executives of major Chinese companies on Tuesday. I'm going to go to the Party School, spend Friday afternoon at a high school in Beijing, because, you know, it's important for us to make sure we hear from a broad section of the Chinese people, and to make sure that we have -- we give a range of Chinese people the chance to hear from us about what's important to the United States.

SECRETARY CLINTON: And that's why we appreciate this opportunity so much, because we could go on a regular news program, and that would be important. But we know that you have such a broad audience of people who are curious about the world, they are interested in the subjects that you cover on your show, and we were delighted to have this invitation.

QUESTION: Thank you. Our show is watched by around 65 million people, most of whom are Chinese, or people who speak Chinese every day, around the world.

SECRETARY CLINTON: That's very impressive.

QUESTION: So when we knew that we were going to have you both on my show, we were very excited. And then we were thinking, “Okay, what do they have in common,” okay? So we have prepared some photographs from the past, which I think will probably bring back some very good memories.

Okay, that was in Washington, D.C.

SECRETARY CLINTON: That was the opening of -

SECRETARY GEITHNER: First meeting.

SECRETARY CLINTON: First meeting of the strategic and economic dialogue. I think that might have been -- President Obama was addressing the Chinese and American officials.

QUESTION: What were you talking about?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I think I was complimenting him on his hair.

(Laughter.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: He always looks so good, you know? It's maddening. It takes me so much longer, and it doesn't even look as good.

QUESTION: Yes. Actually, a lot of American people tell me that they think you are one of the best looking guys in the Administration. Do you agree?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: That can't be true. Can't be true.

SECRETARY CLINTON: I have it on very good authority that that's true.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.) Oh, oh, good old days. That must be in the 1980s.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I was a student in China.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: For two summers in 1981 and 1982. And I think that was when I was a student -

QUESTION: Was that on the trip to (inaudible), right?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: That's probably there, but I was a student at Beda, and I guess I went to -

QUESTION: Do you remember the tee shirt you were wearing?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I do remember the tee shirt, I do.

SECRETARY CLINTON: What's that tee shirt say?

QUESTION: (Speaks in Chinese.)

SECRETARY GEITHNER: It's a resort --

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: -- on the ocean where, at least it used to be, the senior leadership used to go in the summer together.

QUESTION: You look pretty much like you are right now, you know, you haven't changed that much.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I'm much older.

(Laughter.)

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I feel so much older.

QUESTION: China was so, so different at that time.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Oh, it's amazing.

QUESTION: There were so few foreigners.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Amazing.

QUESTION: So, everywhere you went, people stared at you a lot?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Yes, we used to have crowds of people follow us. It wasn't just that we were American, Western, it's because we were all students of Chinese. So it was a great -- it was a wonderful experience for us.

QUESTION: Wow. Did you have a Chinese name at that time?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I did have a Chinese name at the time.

QUESTION: What's your Chinese name?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: My Chinese name is (speaks Chinese).

QUESTION: (Speaks Chinese.) Ah, it's a good name.

SECRETARY CLINTON: You know, yesterday, at the USA Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, we have about 200 young American students, like Tim was in that picture all those years ago, whose Mandarin is quite good, I'm told. I have no way of judging, but many people told me that. And they meet all of the Chinese visitors, and they talk with them. And the Chinese visitors are so excited to see young Americans.

And of course we have such a diverse group. You know, we have, you know, Hispanic Americans and Chinese Americans and African Americans, and everyone who is -- speaking to their Chinese guests. And it's really exciting, still, to see that interchange go on.

QUESTION: Exactly, exactly. And, oh -

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, my gosh. That is a really, really old picture.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: That is an excellent picture.

SECRETARY CLINTON: That's an old picture.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: Looks really good. Look at his figure.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: I have no idea who that is.

SECRETARY CLINTON: You know, we were both in -- we were teaching law school. You know, I had met my husband when we were both students at Yale Law School. And then he went home to teach at the University of Arkansas Law School, and I later accepted a job there, too.

And every Sunday in the spring, summer, and the fall, we would play volleyball with a bunch of the faculty and the students. I have no idea who took that picture. It showed up years and years later. But that's one of our Sunday volleyball games in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

QUESTION: Looks so nice. You know, at that time, if anyone told you that some day in the future you would become Secretary of State of the United States, and you would become Treasury Secretary, would you believe that at that time?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Oh, absolutely about Secretary Clinton. Certainly likely at that time.

SECRETARY CLINTON: No, you know, partly because -- I mean, you look at that picture. I mean, would I ever have gotten confirmed if I'd shown up for my confirmation -

(Laughter.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: But, you know, I never thought about things like that. I'm just so fortunate that I have had this opportunity to, you know, serve my country and work with, you know, great colleagues like Tim at a time of such importance in the world. There are so many critical issues that we have to work together on.

And, you know, a little bit like being on a team, where you have to all come together and try to achieve the goal. But now it has to be a global team. The United States can do a lot on its own. China is doing so much, you know, in the Chinese rise in success. But so many of the problems that we face, you can't deal with them alone. You have to have partnerships. And that is what we are working on.

QUESTION: Yes. At that time did you know what you wanted for your life?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I was -- you know, I was a lawyer and a law professor, and having fun playing volleyball on Sunday. I didn't really know what the future would hold. I always believed that my husband would have a political career, although -- I can't remember the exact year, but that year probably is after he lost his first political race. And you know, he just -- he loved politics, and he loved people, so I knew that he would always be involved.

And that -- and I loved public service and working on behalf of, you know, children and women, and that's something that I still believe in, to this day.

QUESTION: How about you? Did you know what you wanted for life?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: No, but I -- you know, I grew up mostly outside the United States. Even before I came to China I spent a lot of time outside the United States. And I got to see the United States through the eyes of the world, the huge impact America could have on the world, often for good, sometimes for not so good. And I decided, because of that experience, that I wanted to work for my country, and have a chance to shape what we did around the world.

So, I don't think I knew, when I was in China then, that I would ultimately work at the Treasury, work in finance. But I knew that I wanted to work for my country.

QUESTION: Eight weeks in Beijing?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Eight weeks twice. Actually, maybe it was a little longer. Maybe 10 weeks twice.

QUESTION: Wow. Oh, I love those. I love those.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, that's when we were in law school together. And you can see we were children of our times.

QUESTION: Wow, look at the hair and the beard.

SECRETARY CLINTON: He looked like a Viking. That was my first impression when I saw my husband. And then, of course, I had very long hair and what we called aviator glasses.

QUESTION: Oh, yes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: And that's the day we were married, which seems like a very short time ago.

QUESTION: Yes. But hair looks very different.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, you know, me and hair. I mean, it's always something that is the easiest thing to change. Everything else is too hard, but hair you can change. You can cut it, you can grow it, you can -- in that case, I had -- that's kind of an old permanent, because you can tell I had very straight hair. But I decided I would see what it was like being curly. And that didn't last too long.

QUESTION: How do you feel right now -- before you became Treasury Secretary you rarely had to appear in the public eye. So you were able to protect your personal lives. But now you have this high-profile job. You have to appear in the public eye. Has it been really hard for you or your family?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Yes, but it's part of the job. But as the Secretary of State knows, you know, as well as anybody in life, it's hard on families to be in the public eye all the time. You lose a lot of privacy. But it's unavoidable.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: It's just a necessary thing.

SECRETARY CLINTON: In our system, in our time -- it wasn't like that 30, 40, 50 years ago. There was so much more privacy. But it does seem to be part of the -

QUESTION: Part of the job.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Part of the job now. And in some ways, I kind of regret it, because I think that people in the public eye, at least in our country, they're constantly expected to have an answer right away. And a lot of the problems that both Tim and I deal with, you know, you can't give some snap answer. You have to be thoughtful. You have to consult. You have to ask experts. You have to, you know, really mull things over. And, you know, there is just this expectation that things move so quickly, so you must have an answer today about something that happened this morning.

And it is hard on families, because, all too often, they too are part of the broad coverage that is given. But as Tim said just a few minutes ago, if you decide you want to serve your country -- and I think we both feel that that's a great privilege -- you do it under the circumstances that are required. And today there is just more openness and more expectation.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: And if you're doing this at a time of crisis and challenge, then it's enormously important for people to see you and listen to you explain what the challenges are and how we sort through them. It's a very important thing to do.

So, I think that it may have been possible in a different era to not be in the public eye all the time. I think now it's very important to do it, very important to do it.

QUESTION: It must be very hard to deal with all those criticisms and bashing. You know, people right now, they are very frustrated. They are angry.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Yes.

QUESTION: So how do you deal with all those things?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Again, I think it's a necessary part of the job. You know, when you're -- like the President, like the Secretary -- if you're making decisions in a time of crisis where there are no simple choices, and people are uncertain, everything you do is going to be a source of controversy. And it's the price of acting.

You know, you can make a choice in a crisis. You can sit there and decide to be cautious, take no risks, don't act because you're scared of the politics. The President, to his credit, made a different choice. He decided he would come in -- you know, we were facing the worst economic crisis in generations in the United States. He decided to come in and move very quickly, very forcefully to fix what was broken in our country. And even though it was going to be politically difficult in the short term to do that, and that is a great political strength of his, and a necessary thing to do in a crisis.

And I think it's why your country made these choices, too. And it's why both our economies now look so strong, in a relative sense, because you have people willing to come in and do hard things early at significant political cost.

QUESTION: But still, we are human beings. Human beings are not perfect. You know, we have tempers. But you always look so composed in public. How do you do that?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I have had a lot of practice. So it goes back many, many years, when my husband first got into politics. And I, I think, very naively thought, well, you know, he will go off in the morning and do politics, and I will go off and do law.

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: You know, practice law and represent clients and teach, and all the rest.

And so, when it became clear that that was just not the way these situations worked if you had somebody in your family in public life, I just learned to take criticism seriously but not personally. I mean if someone is criticizing you, and you think they are criticizing you on a legitimate ground, not for partisan advantage or ideological, you know, differences or commercial potential, whatever the source of it is, if you think that, well, maybe there is something you can learn from that, then you can think about it and say, “Well, you know, that person may have a point.”

I mean, I read a lot of the criticism from people who I think are both intelligent and well-meaning, even if I don't agree with them, even if they come from a different political starting point. But I disregard -- if I look at somebody's name in a column in the newspaper and I know exactly what they're going to say because they say it all the time, I don't learn anything from that. So there is no way to take it seriously.

And then you try not to take it personally, because so often in these public situations in today's world in our country, it's not about you. It's about the position you're advocating, it's about the President you're working for, it's about the policies that you're fighting for. And so you can't take it personally.

But it's a hard lesson to learn the first time you come up against that kind of onslaught of negativity and criticism. But eventually you try to sort it out to get to some sense of equilibrium.

QUESTION: But still you will feel hurt.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Not any more. No, not at all. I mean, you just can't afford -- that is -- that takes time and energy, and you really can't afford that.

QUESTION: I can't imagine that.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, but partly because I have been at very high levels in the American Government for nearly 20 years. So my skin is pretty thick. But also because I have learned that the jobs that Secretary Geithner and I do are so critical that you don't have time to say, “Oh, dear me. How sad I feel because somebody has said something mean.” You have to get up every day and you have to deal with these very difficult challenges. And there is something happening 24 hours. And you just don't -- you just can't indulge in having your feelings hurt, particularly when it has very little to do with the difficulties of the decisions you have to make.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I think if you -- at least I find that as long as you're focused on trying to figure out what is the right thing to do, what is the best choice among difficult bad choices, that's the necessary thing. That's the most important thing that matters.

Because you have to understand that almost nothing you do will meet with universal acclaim. There will be people who will disagree, like their idea better, and of course, we get this great privilege, we get advice from everybody. We get advice from people from all walks of life who have got a good idea, and they like their solution better.

And again, I think the only way to handle this is just to make sure you focus every day on trying to figure out what is the best thing we can do to fix this problem and to advance this cause.

QUESTION: I read from Vogue the other day that you lost your temper once when a TV crew went to film your house, your children were in the house, they were terrified, and you were really angry. Do you remember that?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I do remember that. I try to be protective of my children.

QUESTION: I know.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: And their privacy. But you know, again, these are things that are unavoidable.

QUESTION: I cannot imagine how you look like when you are angry. You know, you always look so composed.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I have my moments.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: I can't imagine that.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: The best thing with anger is just to use it strategically.

QUESTION: Oh, it looks very intense.

SECRETARY CLINTON: There were a lot of intense moments like that in the past year.

QUESTION: Yes, yes. Yes, yes. How do you raise a child in the public eye, especially in the White House? How did you do that?

SECRETARY CLINTON: It just requires an enormous amount of time and attention. And it's particularly important when you're in the public eye. And, in our case, living in the White House -- and, before that, in the Arkansas Governor's Mansion -- where it's not your own home, and you have almost a huge extended family of people who are working there, that you just have to really provide the circumstances where your child can have as normal an existence as possible.

And I talked to Mrs. Obama about that, who is doing a wonderful job with her daughters. You know, it's like things, like you just -- you have to make sure that they are still doing what we call chores, that they don't just expect to have everybody, all the adults who work there, take care of them, that they have to do their own picking up after themselves, and you know, simple things that instill good habits in your children.

And make sure that they don't ever feel entitled because there are always people who are trying to make them feel that they are special because the -- I guess -- the benefit that the person gets is like, “Oh, I know Tim Geithner's children,” or Hillary Clinton's daughter or the Obama girls, and you have to keep their feet on the ground.

And then you also have to make sure that they remain in touch with how hard life is for many people. You know, we have many people in our country who lost their jobs, or who have serious health problems, or who are, you know, poor and don't have the kind of life we are trying to give to everyone. And you want your children to realize that, even though, for this moment in time, they have this extraordinary experience because their mother or their father is involved in public service, that they have to be thankful for that.

QUESTION: Are you a strict mother?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I was. She is an adult now, so -

(Laughter.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: I was. I thought it was important. But it was also the way I was raised. I think it's really important to help your children get that internal compass, you know, know what's right from wrong, develop discipline, organization, so that they don't have a dream but don't know how to pursue it, but they understand how important their education is, they take their work seriously, they show respect to their elders, you know, the kind of universal values that I think make for good child-rearing.

QUESTION: Are you a nagging mother?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, my daughter would say I was, yes.

(Laughter.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think most mothers can't help themselves.

QUESTION: Yes, I know.

SECRETARY CLINTON: At least that's been my observation. My daughter taught me a lesson, though, when she was about four years old, and I saw her going outside without a sweater on. And I said, “Chelsea, put on a sweater, it's cold outside.” And she looked at me and goes, “I'm not cold. If you're cold, you should put on a sweater.” So you try to guide your daughter or your son, and then eventually they -- if they are independent-minded, they begin to understand how to make their own way in the world.

QUESTION: Yes. And how about you? Would you send your children to study abroad?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Oh, absolutely. I have a daughter who is 18 or 19 -- 18 going on 19, and a son who is 16, and my daughter studied in other countries. My son is going to Africa this summer. It's the most important gift you can give your child, I think.

QUESTION: Do you get to see your family often?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I do.

QUESTION: Really?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I mean, I travel a lot and work a lot. I don't travel nearly as much as the Secretary of State does. She's got the hardest job on the planet. But I see them as much as I can. My daughter is in college, though, so I don't see her that often.

QUESTION: And how about you? Do you get to see your family enough?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, maybe not enough, but -- I work in Washington, but I still live in New York. And so, whenever I can, I try to get home to New York. And then my husband and I like to do just ordinary, normal things, go out to dinner with friends, go to movies, go for long walks. And my daughter lives in New York City, so I get to see her more than if she lived somewhere else, which I like a lot. And my mother, who is 90 -- going to be 91 in June -- lives with us in Washington. So I am thankful that I have my mother.

And so, it works out. It's not enough time, but I am fortunate to have the time I do enjoy.

QUESTION: You really go to movies together?

SECRETARY CLINTON: We do.

QUESTION: Really?

SECRETARY CLINTON: We do, indeed. Yes.

QUESTION: What movies do you like most?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we have an ongoing negotiation, because my husband prefers the action movies.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: There's a surprise.

SECRETARY CLINTON: The more violence, the better. And I think it's kind of a male thing.

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Where -- just take me to a movie, let me sit there and watch people shoot each other, and I don't find that relaxing at all. So I prefer the comedies, the romances, those kinds of movies. So we take turns. And when I go to one of his movies, I shut my eyes a lot, and listen to the music and the soundtrack. And when he goes to one of my movies, he falls asleep a lot. So it works out pretty well for us.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: He must be very proud of you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, thank you. Well, I am very proud of him, and we have been very fortunate that we have had these extraordinary opportunities in our country.

QUESTION: Do you go to movies? I don't think so.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I do, I do. My wife won't go see (inaudible) and I don't attempt to force her to do it. But we do not as much as we would like.

QUESTION: Well, and speaking of your husband, how is he now?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, thank you for asking. He is very good. He has had a couple of bouts, including open heart surgery nearly six years ago, and then he had to have an artery that was not working well reopened. So he has taken really good care of himself in these years. His doctors are very pleased by -- he has changed his diet, and he walks a lot.

But it has inspired him to work on the eating habits of American children. Because he is like so many people our age. We grew up with all of the hamburgers and the french fries and -- it's what we ate. And it is a real problem when you get older. And, in fact, in my dinner in Shanghai I was talking to some of the high-level Chinese officials who were there, and they were telling me that the fastest growing health problem in China is what's coming from changed diets. People are now eating this kind of food, you know, the fast food -

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: -- and now you are beginning to see problems like heart disease or diabetes. So this is a wake-up call for the whole world. And we have to do more to get people to focus on good eating and healthy foods and organic, and all the kinds of things that are better for you.

QUESTION: Exactly. (Inaudible) supermarket -

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Because the First Lady is also leading a national campaign against childhood obesity.

SECRETARY CLINTON: That's right.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Promoting childhood nutrition. And the Treasury Department runs a tax program to try to encourage supermarkets, places they call food deserts in urban America, where -- some neighborhoods in America haven't had supermarkets for decades.

QUESTION: That's what I'm saying. You were just doing your job, because I don't believe you ever did any shopping.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: It is true. I rarely do shop.

(Laughter.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: But it's very important, what Mrs. Obama is doing. And she -

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: -- is setting a great example with exercise, as well as good food,
so -

QUESTION: Yes, and she looks fantastic.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Doesn't she look absolutely wonderful?

QUESTION: Oh, yes, yes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: And I was at the State dinner the other night for -

SECRETARY GEITHNER: She (inaudible) --

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes, she looked fabulous, didn't she? And she is living -- she is modeling a healthy lifestyle, and also with her daughters.

QUESTION: And she has very good taste, in terms of clothes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: I think so, too.

QUESTION: Very good clothes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, there is the cabinet.

QUESTION: Oh, yes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: That's (inaudible) with the President and the Vice President in what's called the East Room. And then, over the shoulder, see Tim? And then you go up.

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: That's George Washington, our first President.

QUESTION: Oh, yes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: That's a very famous painting, because it has been in the White House from the very beginning of the White House. And in our War of 1812, when the British, who we were fighting at the time, burned down the White House, the First Lady, a woman named Dolly Madison, rescued that portrait. So it has hung in the White House ever since.

QUESTION: Wow.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: And I think we have almost half the cabinet here in Beijing.

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Not quite half, but almost half that group.

QUESTION: Oh, a dress code?

(Laughter.)

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Always coordinated. I'm kidding.

SECRETARY CLINTON: That's very funny.

QUESTION: What do you miss most about living at the White House?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes, I don't really miss living at the White House, because I had eight years living there, which I am very honored to have had. But, for example, what we are doing there is planting a tree in honor of people who died in a terrorist bombing in our own country, in Oklahoma City. And it's such a heavy weight of responsibility. I miss the people who work there, they are wonderful people. And I love going to events now at the White House. But that time is over.

QUESTION: The tree must be very tall by now.

SECRETARY CLINTON: It's healthy.

QUESTION: Okay, okay.

MODERATOR: I'm sorry, they have to go.

QUESTION: We have something special for you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, thank you, thank you. This has gone by so fast.

QUESTION: I know.

SECRETARY CLINTON: It's just like a conversation among friends.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Excellent pictures.

QUESTION: Have you sold your house?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: I rented it.

QUESTION: Okay.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Renting was good.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Renting is good.

QUESTION: Okay.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: It's a nice house, we like it.

QUESTION: (Speaks Chinese.) The god of wealth.

(Laughter.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: I love that.

QUESTION: See, originally a Chinese folk hero with a resonant spirit, he was later (inaudible) as the god of wealth by his admirers. Those who place their trust in him will never be harmed.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: That is very generous of you, and very gracious.

SECRETARY CLINTON: That is great.

QUESTION: And see what we have for you?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, let me see.

QUESTION: This is (speaks Chinese). Well, actually, it's you.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: See, (speaks Chinese) is the most renowned Secretary of State in Asian Chinese history.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, thank you.

QUESTION: Who brought peace and prosperity to his country. (Speaks Chinese) is an everlasting symbol of wisdom, charisma, and -

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, I will have to work hard to live up to that. That's a big burden. These are great. Oh, my goodness, well, I will certainly treasure that.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Thank you so much.

QUESTION: Thank you so much. It's such a pleasure to talk to you.

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