U.S. declares 'shared goals' in ASEAN growth<\/p>\n
By Oei Eng Goan and Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (JP): The United States is equally interested in the
\nsecurity of the Asia-Pacific and the region's growth and
\nleadership in its drive for a more open, stable and dynamic
\nglobal economy, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said
\non Monday.<\/p>\n
Albright said Washington was pleased to work with countries in
\nthe region on those two areas and to support the initiatives of
\nthe Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieve
\n\"our shared goals\".<\/p>\n
\"The United States has done its part by joining forces with
\nthe World Bank and the IMF to provide financing needed to support
\nreform and to address basic humanitarian needs,\" she said, adding
\nthat Washington kept its markets open to Asian exports to help
\nthe region's industries get back on their feet.<\/p>\n
Albright's statement was issued on the sidelines of the one-
\nday sixth ASEAN Regional Forum, which was attended by foreign
\nministers from all 10 ASEAN member countries and its dialog
\npartners.<\/p>\n
Set up in 1967 for economic and political cooperation, ASEAN
\ngroups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
The grouping's dialog partners comprise Australia, Canada,
\nChina, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia,
\nSouth Korea and the United States.<\/p>\n
Albright warned, however, that despite signs of economic
\nrecovery in the region, the work of reform was not yet complete
\nand that Asia-Pacific countries should stay focused on banking
\nreforms and corporate restructuring.<\/p>\n
She also encouraged governments and businesses across the
\nregion to continue to build stronger capital markets, and promote
\nbroad-based growth while reducing unemployment and meeting basic
\nhuman needs.<\/p>\n
Underlining Washington's commitment to continue to help the
\nregion's economic recovery, Albright said her government had
\ndeveloped other programs, such as the Accelerating Economic
\nRecovery in Asia Initiative (AERA) to help Indonesia, Thailand
\nand the Philippines.<\/p>\n
\"We have observed with hope and respect the progress Indonesia
\nhas made in conducting free and fair elections, and broadening
\npolitical participation. And we have strongly supported Thailand
\nas it responded to financial difficulties while bolstering its
\ncommitment to democratic values,\" the secretary of state
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
AERA, assisted by American businesses, is designed to help the
\nbanking and legal systems in those countries, as well as improve
\ntheir human resources in coping with the rapid progress and
\ndevelopment of science and technology.<\/p>\n
\"We also want to work with ASEAN and its members to foster
\npublic-private partnerships that support agriculture, sustainable
\nforestry, rural development and poverty eradication.\"<\/p>\n
Noting that a strong and growing global economy was the best
\nguarantee of prosperity and stability in the region, she said
\nWashington hoped the ASEAN member countries would take the lead
\nin building the momentum for the World Trade Organization's (WTO)
\nministerial meeting in Seattle.<\/p>\n
The Seattle meeting, scheduled for November, this year, is
\nexpected to endorse a new trade round and to move forward on the
\nAccelerated Tariff Liberalization package as well as the trade
\nagenda of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.<\/p>\n
Touching on the WTO, Albright also said the United States
\nwould continue to work for the entry of China into the
\norganization on commercially viable terms.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-declares-shared-goals-in-asean-growth-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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