Vice President Jusuf Kalla spoke briefly with his United States counterpart Joe Biden in the first top level meeting between the two nations since President Barack Obama took office two weeks ago.

Late Thursday, the Associated Press reported Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would visit Japan, South Korea, China and Indonesia.

State Department Spokesman Robert Wood said Thursday that Clinton will visit the four countries starting Feb. 15 in a sign of the importance of President Barack Obama's administration places on relations with the Pacific Rim.

Kalla said Indonesia hailed the changes Obama had initiated but was curious to see if they would have an impact on relations between the West and the Muslim world, relations which soured during the administration of former President George W. Bush.

"Now it depends on how the US approaches Muslim countries," he said.

While Kalla was not scheduled to meet with Biden during his stay, the US Vice President changed his plans and met with the Indonesian Vice President at the White House on Wednesday.

"I am the first Vice President to be welcomed by Vice President Biden in the United States," Kalla told Antara.

Kalla is currently in Washington after being invited by the US Congress to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. It was anticipated Obama would attend the annual event.

In Jakarta, State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said Thursday that Clinton’s visit was most likely due to Indonesia’s strengthening role as an emerging economy in Asia, as well being the world’s largest Muslim country.

“Major countries are beginning to notice of Indonesia as an emerging economy, whose contribution to the global economy must be taken into account,” Hatta said.

In her Senate acceptance speech, Clinton said Indonesia was one of the countries which could have a positive impact on the global financial crisis.

"It therefore makes sense that Clinton would visit Indonesia on her maiden  overseas trip since she will be visiting China, Japan and Korea as well,” Hatta said.

Indonesia's solid economic growth over the past few years had really put it on the map, he added.

Indonesia's gross domestic product doubled over a two year period to Rp 3.7 trillion (US$337 billion) at the end of 2008, ranking it among the top 20 countries with the highest GDPs, he added.

“We have to take this opportunity to build a strong relationship based on mutual respect that will benefit us both.”

Clinton, also a former US First Lady, is scheduled to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during her trip to Indonesia.

Hatta said Clinton’s visit could also be linked to statements in Obama’s inaugural address in which he said he sought a new way forward with the Muslim world “based on mutual interest and mutual respect”.

“Obama said he wanted to build a partnership with Islamic countries. We should benefit from this new relationship given that we are a democratic nation with the largest  Muslim population in the world,” he said,

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