U.S: E. Asian Summit should be inclusive

U.S: E. Asian Summit should be inclusive

AUSTRALIA: The United States supports efforts by Asian countries to further integrate their economies, but any trading bloc shouldn't exclude countries in a wider area outside the region, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.

Delegates at the inaugural East Asian Summit, scheduled for December, will discuss creating a trading bloc that would include the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

"From the U.S. point of view, we want to ensure that the East Asian Summit is an open process; is an inclusive process," Christopher Hill, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs told reporters in Canberra. "We support greater integration in the region."

Hill declined to comment on Australian plans to sign a nonaggression treaty with ASEAN in return for becoming a foundation member of the summit, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur. Critics say the nonaggression treaty could conflict with Australia's existing alliances, including with the United States.

Australia's staunch support of the United States in its war on terror and policy of pre-emptive attack on perceived threats in other countries has created suspicion in the region. -- AP