World powers pledge closer involvement in Southeast Asia

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 08/02/2007 12:24 PM

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Manila

In a sign of growing recognition for the Southeast Asian regional body, advanced countries including the United States, the European Union and Australia and have expressed a commitment to strengthen economic and political relations with ASEAN.

The U.S. said it would focus on enhancing ""friendship, support and commitment"" to the region and to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The 10-member organization has gathered in Manila for their annual ASEAN Regional Forum, which has followed their meeting of foreign ministers.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said Wednesday both ASEAN and the U.S. would gain benefits from closer relations.

""The U.S. considers its relations with ASEAN as a critical component of its dealings with East Asia as a whole,"" Negroponte said.

""We want to deepen our partnership with you, individually or collectively, to help build a better future that people expect and deserve.""

His statement appeared to dismiss suggestions the U.S. had snubbed the regional meeting given U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was visiting the Middle East.

A number of experts and officials in the region had expressed disappointment at her absence, saying it signaled declining interest in ASEAN by the U.S., the region's largest trading partner.

Negroponte also said ASEAN had a critical role in the promotion of democracy throughout the region. He commended ASEAN's decision to include a human rights provision in the group's proposed charter.

The EU's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana said the EU greatly supported ASEAN integration, given the experience of closer integration in Europe.

""We see this regional association as the start of something big,"" Solana said, referring to ASEAN's move to establish a single market- and production-base, as well as full integration by 2015.

Solana also said the EU was looking beyond an economic partnership toward political relations with ASEAN.

The EU and ASEAN together represent around 1 billion people and are committed to regional and multilateral cooperations.

Solana said the two world groups had much potential to work together to address global challenges.

In 2005, the EU was ASEAN's second largest export market and its third largest trading partner, after the U.S. and Japan.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said after the bilateral meeting the EU and ASEAN were now discussing a free trade agreement.

ASEAN ministers also held talks with the Russian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations.

""Russia has expressed a willingness to be part of the East Asian Summit,"" Hassan said.

ASEAN ministers also met with their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand and Canada to look toward strengthening economic and political ties.

Hassan said ASEAN and Australia had signed partnership agreements.

""Australia has committed around A$6 million to help handle avian influenza in ASEAN countries,"" he said.

The foreign ministers of the 10 ASEAN members plus 17 other countries in Asia and the Pacific region will discuss regional security issues during the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila on Thursday. More stories -- Page 3, 12

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