US-POLITICS-RICE-INTERVIEW

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks during an interview at the State Department in Washington, DC, on December 22, 2008. Rice said Monday she will travel to China after the New Year, her last scheduled trip before President George W. Bush's administration steps down. "I will go after the first of the year to China for the 30th anniversary of the establishment of US-China relations. I think it's important to do it," Rice said in an interview with AFP. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB