The new US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has started her first day in her position as chief diplomat by introducing herself to State Department employees.

During her address on Thursday, Clinton pledged to boost the morale and resources of the diplomatic corps and promised them a difficult but exciting road ahead.

She told staff members that she intends to use robust development programs and effective diplomacy to secure America's long term foreign policy goals.

Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, said, "This is going to be a challenging time. And it will require 21st century tools and solutions to meet our problems and seize our opportunities. I'm going to be asking a lot of you. I want you to think outside the proverbial box, I want you to give me the best advice you can. I want you to understand there is nothing that I welcome more than a good debate and the kind of dialogue that will make us better."

(CCTV January 24, 2009)