U.S. pledges to aid SE Asia

U.S. pledges to aid SE Asia

SINGAPORE (AFP): The United States has reiterated its
commitment to help Southeast Asia recover from its financial
crisis, a statement from a meeting of U.S. ambassadors said.

Potential for long-term economic growth in Southeast Asia
remained strong, the statement said over the weekend.

But the ambassadors urged Southeast Asia to implement policies
necessary to achieve the growth, "including those worked out in
conjunction with the International Monetary Fund".

"Policies that boost investor confidence and encourage the
inflow of private capital will be critical," the envoys said.

Heads of eight U.S. diplomatic missions in the region met in
Singapore on Thursday and Friday to discuss policy in dealing
with the crisis. They also met U.S. Commerce Secretary William
Daley on Thursday.

"The economic recovery of Southeast Asia can be a 'win-win'
situation that will be to our common benefit," the ambassadors
said.

Earlier, Daley had rejected suggestions that Washington was
not doing enough to help Asia and might even be trying to profit
by seizing the chance to open up markets. He stressed that
"Asians will solve the Asian problem, no one else will".