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".