(Kyodo) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday showed his interest in acceding to a nonaggression treaty of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year, a Thai minister said.
After an hour-long meeting between Bush and seven ASEAN leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram told reporters the U.S. leader "nodded vigorously" when the matter was raised of whether the signing could take place next year when Washington celebrates the 30th anniversary of relations with ASEAN.
"He told the secretary of state (Condoleezza Rice) that he wanted to look into whether it is about time. Next year is the 30th anniversary of dialogue between the U.S. and ASEAN," Nitya said.
The treaty, known as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, was adopted by ASEAN in 1976 and since amended to allow countries outside the region to join, while committing signatories to noninterference in each other's internal affairs, renunciation of the threat or use of force and settlement of disputes by peaceful means.
The treaty has already been signed by China, Japan, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, India and Pakistan. France is scheduled to sign the pact next month. The European Union also expressed in July a determination to sign the treaty.
At the discussion with leaders from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, Bush also agreed to host a gathering for ASEAN students studying in the states with regard to becoming "future leaders" of Southeast Asia, according to Nitya who also attended the talks.
In addition to general discussions on sustainable development, energy and international terrorism, the leaders also touched briefly on the situation in Myanmar, an ASEAN member that did not participate in the meeting, according to Nitya. Leaders from Laos and Cambodia also did not participate in Saturday's talks with Bush.
A senior Indonesian official said Bush urged ASEAN to continue to pressure Myanmar to improve democracy and its human rights records.
They also discussed the U.S. proposal for free trade area in the Asia-Pacific region, the North Korean nuclear issue, the Middle East, especially the situation in Iraq, coping with a possible avian flu pandemic in the future and natural disasters, and energy cooperation, the official said.
After an hour-long meeting between Bush and seven ASEAN leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram told reporters the U.S. leader "nodded vigorously" when the matter was raised of whether the signing could take place next year when Washington celebrates the 30th anniversary of relations with ASEAN.
"He told the secretary of state (Condoleezza Rice) that he wanted to look into whether it is about time. Next year is the 30th anniversary of dialogue between the U.S. and ASEAN," Nitya said.
The treaty, known as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, was adopted by ASEAN in 1976 and since amended to allow countries outside the region to join, while committing signatories to noninterference in each other's internal affairs, renunciation of the threat or use of force and settlement of disputes by peaceful means.
The treaty has already been signed by China, Japan, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, India and Pakistan. France is scheduled to sign the pact next month. The European Union also expressed in July a determination to sign the treaty.
At the discussion with leaders from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, Bush also agreed to host a gathering for ASEAN students studying in the states with regard to becoming "future leaders" of Southeast Asia, according to Nitya who also attended the talks.
In addition to general discussions on sustainable development, energy and international terrorism, the leaders also touched briefly on the situation in Myanmar, an ASEAN member that did not participate in the meeting, according to Nitya. Leaders from Laos and Cambodia also did not participate in Saturday's talks with Bush.
A senior Indonesian official said Bush urged ASEAN to continue to pressure Myanmar to improve democracy and its human rights records.
They also discussed the U.S. proposal for free trade area in the Asia-Pacific region, the North Korean nuclear issue, the Middle East, especially the situation in Iraq, coping with a possible avian flu pandemic in the future and natural disasters, and energy cooperation, the official said.
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