The Associated Press
WASHINGTON: Singapore's prime minister is urging the United States not to let Southeast Asian nations' relationship with military-ruled Myanmar poison ties with a growing, dynamic region.
A day ahead of a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush, Lee Hsien Loong said Thursday that U.S. ties with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations "should not be held hostage by" misgivings over Myanmar, also called Burma.
"The U.S. has a broader strategic interest in ASEAN and should not allow this single matter to hinder its efforts to actively engage ASEAN countries, both individually and as a group," Lee told an audience gathered at a Washington hotel to commemorate the 40th anniversary of ASEAN.
Lee also said that while close ties with China and India are important for Southeast Asian nations, the United States' security and economic presence in the region is indispensable.
"We do not want to see the growing cooperation among the Asian countries lead to rival blocs that split the Pacific down the middle," he said.
Myanmar is a source of embarrassment to ASEAN, largely because the junta has failed to fulfill promises to restore democracy and free political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
ASEAN has a policy of not interfering in other countries' affairs, but it is increasingly frustrated over Myanmar's slow pace of reforms. Still, ASEAN officials insist that continued sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States may not help Myanmar move toward democracy.
The group's members are the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei and Indonesia.
Lee met Thursday with U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to discuss an economic relationship that has seen a jump to $42.5 billion (€31 billion) in total two-way trade since a 2004 free trade agreement — a 34 percent increase.
"The important thing is making it bigger," Gutierrez told reporters after the meeting.
Lee said that despite Singapore being a small city-state, it was America's ninth largest export market last year. He called for stronger U.S. economic ties with Southeast Asian nations.
Wealthy, tightly controlled Singapore is one of Washington's closest friends in Southeast Asia. It has a significant, moderate Muslim minority and is a stalwart supporter of U.S. anti-terrorism efforts.
In November, Bush spent a day in Singapore on his way to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Vietnam.
He met then with Lee, who often has advised Bush on how to improve America's image, especially in the Muslim world.
A day ahead of a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush, Lee Hsien Loong said Thursday that U.S. ties with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations "should not be held hostage by" misgivings over Myanmar, also called Burma.
"The U.S. has a broader strategic interest in ASEAN and should not allow this single matter to hinder its efforts to actively engage ASEAN countries, both individually and as a group," Lee told an audience gathered at a Washington hotel to commemorate the 40th anniversary of ASEAN.
Lee also said that while close ties with China and India are important for Southeast Asian nations, the United States' security and economic presence in the region is indispensable.
"We do not want to see the growing cooperation among the Asian countries lead to rival blocs that split the Pacific down the middle," he said.
Myanmar is a source of embarrassment to ASEAN, largely because the junta has failed to fulfill promises to restore democracy and free political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
ASEAN has a policy of not interfering in other countries' affairs, but it is increasingly frustrated over Myanmar's slow pace of reforms. Still, ASEAN officials insist that continued sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States may not help Myanmar move toward democracy.
The group's members are the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei and Indonesia.
Lee met Thursday with U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to discuss an economic relationship that has seen a jump to $42.5 billion (€31 billion) in total two-way trade since a 2004 free trade agreement — a 34 percent increase.
"The important thing is making it bigger," Gutierrez told reporters after the meeting.
Lee said that despite Singapore being a small city-state, it was America's ninth largest export market last year. He called for stronger U.S. economic ties with Southeast Asian nations.
Wealthy, tightly controlled Singapore is one of Washington's closest friends in Southeast Asia. It has a significant, moderate Muslim minority and is a stalwart supporter of U.S. anti-terrorism efforts.
In November, Bush spent a day in Singapore on his way to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Vietnam.
He met then with Lee, who often has advised Bush on how to improve America's image, especially in the Muslim world.
3 comments:
No need to urge the US, your
excellency (Lee Hsien Loong). They
will soon to find their way to
a bigger economy.
Lee is absolutely correct. If the US and EU isolate themselves from ASEAN over Burma, that will only encourage China to move in, and we know China has no problem with the illegitimate Burmese regime; or the Cambodian regime for that matter.
Yes need to urge the US, your
excellency (Lee Hsien Loong). The
USA is the important key to develop
ASEAN economy especially Cambodia
one. Youns (vietnamese communists)
don't like USA, let them alone.
we(Hun Sen) don't worry about youns.
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