WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Bucking tradition , U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will bypass Europe and travel to Asia on her maiden voyage overseas , diplomats familiar with the planning said Tuesday . Bill Clinton looks at his wife Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she is sworn in on February 2 . Clinton is expected to visit China , Japan and South Korea on her first trip overseas . The diplomats said she may also add other stops , including one in Southeast Asia . The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because Clinton 's schedule was still being finalized . The State Department has not commented on her travel plans . Making Asia Clinton 's first overseas destination illustrates the Obama administration 's desire for a broader partnership with China and its commitment to resolving the North Korean nuclear issue , as well as strengthening ties with Tokyo and Seoul , the diplomats said . The White House said President Barack Obama told Chinese President Hu Jintao in a Friday phone call that he looked forward to `` to early contacts and exchanges between senior officials of our two countries . '' Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month she hoped to make an early trip to Southeast Asia , in particular Indonesia , the world 's most populous Muslim-majority nation where Obama spent part of his childhood . Clinton said she wanted to restart Peace Corps programs there , which were suspended in the 1960s . Traditionally U.S. secretaries of state make Europe or the Middle East their first official trip overseas . But given that Vice President Joseph Biden is headed to Europe this week for a security conference in Germany , and special envoy George Mitchell is currently in the Middle East , Clinton is free to break with tradition . However British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and German Foreign Secretary Walter Steinmeier will be Clinton 's first foreign guests to the State Department on Tuesday . Clinton was sworn in as America 's 67th secretary of state on Monday -- for a second time . Watch Clinton being sworn in » . Biden administered the oath to Clinton in a ceremonial star-studded gathering at the State Department , with actor Chevy Chase and designer Oscar de la Renta among those on hand . `` It is an overwhelming honor ... to assume this position , '' Clinton said . `` We have a lot of work to do [ to ensure that ] America 's future can be even brighter than our storied past . ''
Hillary Clinton will bypass Europe and travel to Asia on her maiden voyage overseas . The former secretary of state is expected to visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines during a nine-day trip that begins in New York City on Friday before ending with stops at Pearl Harbor and Trip illustrates Obama administration 's desire for a broader partnership with China . Trip also highlights commitment to resolving the North Korean nuclear issue .