US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers remarks on "America's Pacific Century" at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Thursday, Nov 10. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

HAWAII — Attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Hillary Clinton arrived in Hawaii with a message that the world's strategic and economic center of gravity will be the Asia-Pacific, from the Indian subcontinent to western shores of the Americas.

America's most complex and consequential relationships with an emerging power are with China, according to Clinton.

"Some in our country see China's progress as a threat to the US, while some in China worry that America seeks to constrain China. In fact, we believe a thriving China is good for China, and a thriving China is good for America," Clinton said.

Referring to the Strategic and Economic Dialogue launched with China in 2009, Clinton said these are the most intensive and expansive talks ever conducted between the two sides.

"We look forward to traveling to Beijing this spring for the fourth round," she said.

On the economic front, the US and China have to work together to ensure strong, sustained, balanced future global growth, she said, adding that US firms want fair opportunities to export to China's markets and a level playing field for competition.

"Chinese firms want to buy more high-tech products from us, make more investments in our country, and be accorded the same terms of access that market economies enjoy. We can work together on these objectives, but China needs to take steps to reform," Clinton said.

She urged China to raise the value of the yuan, China's currency, and step into further economic and political reform.

In the hour-long outdoor speech, Clinton addressed more than a hundred invited guests including Hawaii's political leaders, heads of Pacific island nations and senior US military officials.

This is the second time Clinton has delivered a speech in the East-West Center. Last year she spoke at the East-West Center in observance of the 50th anniversary since the Center was founded by Congress to promote better understanding and relations between the people and nations of the US, Asia and the Pacific.