Sept. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin called for closer cooperation with China, criticizing the Obama administration’s decision to impose duties on Chinese tires, according to people who heard her closed-door speech to fund managers in Hong Kong.

In a wide-ranging, 80-minute speech that may augment both her bank account and overseas profile ahead of a possible 2012 White House bid, Palin spoke today about issues ranging from Alaskan fishing to U.S.-Sino ties, several people said.

“She started the speech with the Alaskan fishing industry, which I think is a safe topic for her,” said Suyeon An of RCM Asia Pacific Ltd, who left before Palin stopped talking. “She was avoiding the important economic issues. She tried to talk some about Hong Kong in general, but it was nothing specific. It was a very safe speech, boring I have to say.”

Palin, 45, quit as Alaska governor on July 26, less than a year after she ran with John McCain in an unsuccessful campaign against now-President Barack Obama.

“When Palin resigned her governorship, it was assumed that it was in part to make more money, build a nest egg and lay the groundwork for a 2012 presidential race,” said Charlie Cook, publisher of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report in Washington. “This trip is simply an example of her doing so.”

Tight Security

Palin spoke to a full house in the main ballroom of Hong Kong’s Grand Hyatt hotel shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time. Reporters were kept out by tight security at the investor forum organized by CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets.

People who attended Palin’s speech said she took only pre- approved questions. She also discussed the U.S. health care reform debate, the U.S. deficit and energy conservation, they said.

“She was against the Obama administration’s tariff on importing tires from China,” Nicola Maino, head of equity team, at Euromobiliare Asset Management SGR based in Milan. “In her opinion it was the wrong approach. Her approach would be more cooperation with China.”

Palin, making her first visit to Asia after obtaining a passport in 2007, faced criticism last year after saying her state’s closeness to Russia and Canada bolstered her foreign- policy credentials. She has recently emerged as a critic of Obama’s health-care plan, saying Aug. 7 on Facebook that it would lead to “death panels” for the sick and elderly.

Palin’s spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment about the trip.

CLSA, the regional brokerage unit of Paris-based Credit Agricole SA, has declined to say if or how much Palin will get paid. It closed the speech to the press because Palin indicated she would say different things if reporters were present, Agence France-Presse reported Sept. 21, citing Jonathan Slone, CLSA’s chief executive officer.

To contact the reporter on this story: Daniel Ten Kate at dtenkate@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 23, 2009 03:59 EDT