BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor:
Overseas tonight,
President Obama
made big news today on his tour of the
Asian Pacific
region, with an announcement about Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton
. Our chief White House correspondent
Chuck Todd
had a chance to speak with Secretary
Clinton
earlier today. Tonight he is traveling with the president.
CHUCK TODD reporting:
The president showed up in the vivid colors of a traditional
Balinese
shirt for the official photo with Asian leaders. Mr.
Obama
has tried to keep the focus on the jobs crisis back home, today joining officials from
Boeing
to tout the sale of 230 US-made aircraft to an Indonesian airline.
President BARACK OBAMA:
Our workers back home are going to be able to have job security and be able to produce an outstanding product made in
America
.
TODD:
And in a major foreign policy announcement, the president said his administration will renew diplomatic conversations with the isolated government of
Myanmar
, formerly
Burma
.
Pres. OBAMA:
After years of darkness, we've seen flickers of progress in these last several weeks.
TODD:
Hillary Clinton
will visit the
country
next month, the
first secretary of state
to go there in more than 50 years. In an interview with
NBC News
, she says the
country
must do more for a full restoration of relations.
Secretary HILLARY CLINTON:
They have to release all political prisoners. I mean, that just is a condition. They have to have a real electoral system with an open door to political parties and free expression.
TODD:
On
Syria
, another
country
with a fledgling democratic movement,
Clinton
was blunt in her assessment of the growing violence.
Sec. CLINTON:
Yes, I think there could be a civil war with a very determined and well-armed and eventually well-financed opposition.
TODD:
She all but ruled out a
Libya
-like solution with a Western coalition to help out in the fight.
Sec. CLINTON:
There is no appetite for that kind of action vis-a-vis
Syria
.
Libya
was a -- was a unique situation.
TODD:
As for her daughter's new career here at
NBC News
. I got to ask about my new colleague.
Sec. CLINTON:
Yes. Yes.
TODD:
What did you think when she said, 'I want to become a member of the fourth estate, this side of the line here?
Sec. CLINTON:
Well, I was -- I was a little surprised. But, you know, she decided to go for it and I'm very excited for her.
TODD:
The president heads to
Guam
after the summit and returns to
Washington
on Sunday.
Chuck Todd
,
NBC
News, Bali.
“ ”