Clinton: Relations with Japan vital for US

TOKYO: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reached Tokyo yesterday on the first leg of her four-nation visit to Asia, saying ties with Japan was very important for the US.

US President Barack Obama's top diplomat is in Asia to meet with the leaders of Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China.

Clinton was welcomed in Tokyo by high-level dignitaries, including two Japanese astronauts who had earlier flown on a US space shuttle.