WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will kick off her first visit to Indonesia and Australia on Saturday in a bid to beef up American ties with the region, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Tuesday.

    Rice is due to hold bilateral talks with Indonesian officials on issues ranging from military ties to democratic reform and efforts to stave off a bird flu pandemic, McCormack told a news briefing.

    Washington has resumed defense training and other exchanges with Jakarta and last month decided to restart military grants to help combat terrorism and step up maritime security and disaster relief.

    Rice will conclude her five-day trip in Australia, where she will hold strategic talks with her Australian and Japanese counterparts and attend a climate change conference which also includes China, India and South Korea, McCormack said. Enditem