U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Japan on Feb. 16- 18, on the first leg of her maiden overseas trip as the top U.S. diplomat, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

Clinton will hold talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during the visit, the ministry said. She is also expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso.

Clinton and the Japanese leaders are expected to discuss a range of issues including the financial crisis, North Korea's nuclear issue, Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals, Afghanistan and Japan's alliance with the newly inaugurated U.S. administration of President Barack Obama.

In Washington, the State Department said after visiting Japan Clinton will travel to Indonesia on Feb. 18-19, South Korea on Feb. 19-20 and China on Feb. 20-22.

Clinton said in a Senate hearing in January to consider her nomination for the top U.S. diplomat that she embraces the alliance with Japan as a "cornerstone" of U.S. policy in Asia.