Asia-Pacific

Clinton postpones visit to New Zealand after Haiti quake

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-14 10:48

WELLINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has postponed her visit to New Zealand following the massive earthquake in Haiti, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced on Thursday.

McCully said Clinton has promised to reschedule the visit as soon as possible.

Clinton was due to arrive in New Zealand early Friday morning.

"Secretary Clinton rang me this morning to convey the news. She promised to reschedule the visit as soon as possible," McCully said in a statement.

"Mrs. Clinton told me that given the unimaginable scale of tragedy, and the fact that there are no operating institutions left in Haiti, the importance of US leadership in the relief efforts required her to return home immediately," he added.

The New Zealand foreign minister said the decision to postpone the visit is entirely understandable, given the massive damage and loss of life in Haiti, and the fact that there are a very large number of Americans based there.

Clinton was due to pay a visit to Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. She also postponed her visit to Pupua New Guinea and Australia.

Moreover, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on Wednesday delayed his scheduled trip to Australia to coordinate US relief effort in Haiti, which was struck by a devastating earthquake on Tuesday.