KABUL — Hillary Rodham Clinton, on her first trip to Afghanistan as U.S. secretary of state, said today that President Hamid Karzai’s inauguration provides a new chance for him to strengthen government accountability.

Karzai, who invited Clinton to dinner at his presidential palace, is under stiff pressure from the U.S. and other nations to fight pervasive corruption in his government.

“There is now a clear window of opportunity for President Karzai and his government to make a new compact with the people of Afghanistan to demonstrate clearly that they’re going to have accountability and tangible results that will improve the lives of the people who live throughout this magnificent country,” Clinton said.