Japan on Friday welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's decision to visit from Feb. 16 to 18, the first stop on her maiden trip overseas as the top U.S. diplomat.
Clinton's visit will also take her to Indonesia, South Korea and China.
"Japan being the first stop reflects the importance (President Barack Obama's administration) places on the Japan-U.S. alliance and carries great significance," Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said at a morning news conference.