Kerry reassures Asia as concerns grow over U.S. fiscal impasse

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (Reuters) - Secretary of State John Kerry assured Asian nations that the United States was committed to resolving a fiscal impasse as some leaders, including Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, expressed anxiety over the lingering U.S. government shutdown and a possible debt default.

In a meeting on the sidelines of an Asian summit in Brunei, Kerry made clear to Li that the U.S. government shutdown, now in its ninth day, and friction over the U.S. budget "is a moment in Washington politics and reaffirmed the President's commitment to resolving the issue," a senior State Department official said.