U.S. declares 'shared goals' in ASEAN growth

U.S. declares 'shared goals' in ASEAN growth

By Oei Eng Goan and Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

SINGAPORE (JP): The United States is equally interested in the
security of the Asia-Pacific and the region's growth and
leadership in its drive for a more open, stable and dynamic
global economy, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said
on Monday.

Albright said Washington was pleased to work with countries in
the region on those two areas and to support the initiatives of
the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieve
"our shared goals".

"The United States has done its part by joining forces with
the World Bank and the IMF to provide financing needed to support
reform and to address basic humanitarian needs," she said, adding
that Washington kept its markets open to Asian exports to help
the region's industries get back on their feet.

Albright's statement was issued on the sidelines of the one-
day sixth ASEAN Regional Forum, which was attended by foreign
ministers from all 10 ASEAN member countries and its dialog
partners.

Set up in 1967 for economic and political cooperation, ASEAN
groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The grouping's dialog partners comprise Australia, Canada,
China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia,
South Korea and the United States.

Albright warned, however, that despite signs of economic
recovery in the region, the work of reform was not yet complete
and that Asia-Pacific countries should stay focused on banking
reforms and corporate restructuring.

She also encouraged governments and businesses across the
region to continue to build stronger capital markets, and promote
broad-based growth while reducing unemployment and meeting basic
human needs.

Underlining Washington's commitment to continue to help the
region's economic recovery, Albright said her government had
developed other programs, such as the Accelerating Economic
Recovery in Asia Initiative (AERA) to help Indonesia, Thailand
and the Philippines.

"We have observed with hope and respect the progress Indonesia
has made in conducting free and fair elections, and broadening
political participation. And we have strongly supported Thailand
as it responded to financial difficulties while bolstering its
commitment to democratic values," the secretary of state
explained.

AERA, assisted by American businesses, is designed to help the
banking and legal systems in those countries, as well as improve
their human resources in coping with the rapid progress and
development of science and technology.

"We also want to work with ASEAN and its members to foster
public-private partnerships that support agriculture, sustainable
forestry, rural development and poverty eradication."

Noting that a strong and growing global economy was the best
guarantee of prosperity and stability in the region, she said
Washington hoped the ASEAN member countries would take the lead
in building the momentum for the World Trade Organization's (WTO)
ministerial meeting in Seattle.

The Seattle meeting, scheduled for November, this year, is
expected to endorse a new trade round and to move forward on the
Accelerated Tariff Liberalization package as well as the trade
agenda of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.

Touching on the WTO, Albright also said the United States
would continue to work for the entry of China into the
organization on commercially viable terms.