Clinton told the gathering that the US is in the region for the long haul, but she also played down growing perceptions of a US-China rivalry there, declaring "the Pacific is big enough for all of us" while dismissing the notion that expanded US activity in the region was "a hedge against particular countries".

Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum CSIS in Honolulu, Hawaii, noted that Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula are the three areas that US-China relations should focus on for the sake of the stability of the region.

Satu Limaye, director of the East-West Center in Washington, outlined four challenges for the US in its pivot toward Asia, including how to sustain attention in this region and make multilateralism work and stretch all the way to the Asian subcontinent.

Although it's widely believed countries in this region depend on the US mainly for security, the countries actually have complex ties to its economy, too, Limaye said.

Limaye noted that the US should keep balance in its foreign policy, including its relationship with China, which should be "not too hot, not too cold".

About the broadcaster:

CJ Henderson is a foreign expert for China Daily's online culture department. CJ is a graduate of the University of Sydney where she completed a Bachelors degree in Media and Communications, Government and International Relations, and American Studies. CJ has four years of experience working across media platforms, including work for 21st Century Newspapers in Beijing, and a variety of media in Australia and the US.

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