WASHINGTON, July 5 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit China, Thailand, South Korea and Japan from July 8 to 13, spokesman for the US Department of State Sean McCormack said in a press statement Tuesday.

    During her stay, Rice will meet senior government officials of those countries to discuss political and economic issues of bilateral concern, the statement said.

    The nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, cooperation on fighting terrorism and transnational crimes, and tsunami recovery and reconstruction efforts are topics of Rice's meetings with officials of the East Asian countries, the statement said. Enditem