U.S: E. Asian Summit should be inclusive<\/p>\n
AUSTRALIA: The United States supports efforts by Asian
\ncountries to further integrate their economies, but any trading
\nbloc shouldn't exclude countries in a wider area outside the
\nregion, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Delegates at the inaugural East Asian Summit, scheduled for
\nDecember, will discuss creating a trading bloc that would include
\nthe 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN,
\nChina, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\"From the U.S. point of view, we want to ensure that the East
\nAsian Summit is an open process; is an inclusive process,\"
\nChristopher Hill, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East
\nAsian and Pacific Affairs told reporters in Canberra. \"We support
\ngreater integration in the region.\"<\/p>\n
Hill declined to comment on Australian plans to sign a
\nnonaggression treaty with ASEAN in return for becoming a
\nfoundation member of the summit, which will be held in Kuala
\nLumpur. Critics say the nonaggression treaty could conflict with
\nAustralia's existing alliances, including with the United States.<\/p>\n
Australia's staunch support of the United States in its war on
\nterror and policy of pre-emptive attack on perceived threats in
\nother countries has created suspicion in the region. -- AP<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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