U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits the tiny outpost of the Cook Islands as China's shadow over Asia Pacific nations looms ever larger.
She is there to shore up ties and buttress security partnerships across the region.
Clinton played down perceptions of a US-China rivalry in the region saying the US hoped to work more closely with China.
On Friday, she rejected the notion that US activity in Pacific island nations was a "hedge against particular countries".
SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, HILLARY CLINTON, SAYING:
"We want to see China act in a fair and transparent way. We want to see them play a positive role in navigation and maritime security issues. We want to see them contribute to sustainable development for the people of the pacific, to protect the precious environment, including the oceans."
China's vice foreign minister Cui Tiankai said Beijing wants to promote development in the region not gain dominance.
While underscoring the benefits of what she called the "American model of partnership" Clinton pledged more than 32 million US dollars for programmes to protect the environment.
