Closer Asean-US ties with historic summit

AFTER a landmark summit yesterday, the United States pledged to step up its engagement with Asean, which it described as a key partner in promoting regional peace and stability.

The meeting between President Barack Obama and all 10 members of Asean was the first between the two, and underscored renewed American interest in South-east Asia at a time when it faces growing competition politically and economically from other Asian rivals, particularly fast-rising China.

As Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted at a press conference after the Asean-US Leaders' Meeting yesterday: 'That...the US President considers it worthwhile to have a summit meeting with all 10 Asean members notwithstanding difficulties they have, particularly with Myanmar, I think that's very significant.'

The summit, in a Shangri-La Hotel ballroom was the first time that a US president has sat down with the leaders of all 10 Asean members, including Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein.

It marked a break from the past, when closer Asean-US ties were stymied by Washington's policy of sanctions and isolation against Myanmar in response to its human rights record.

An Asean-US joint statement, to which Myanmar is a party, later said the summit underscored the importance of national reconciliation in the country and called for next year's planned general election to be conducted in a 'free, fair, inclusive and transparent manner'.

Mr Obama also used the occasion to press for the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Officials at the meeting said General Thein Sein did not react to the unprecedented face-to-face demand but thanked Washington for its new policy of engagement.

Myanmar aside, the meeting covered a broad range of issues, including working together on common challenges such as climate change, nuclear proliferation and helping to bring about a sustained and balanced global economic recovery.

Describing the summit as a 'meeting of minds', Mr Lee said, 'Asean countries without exception were very happy to engage America and see greater prospects to cooperate with it.'

Both sides will now prepare for a second meeting, with an Eminent Persons Group to be set up to look at ways of fostering closer collaboration.

In a joint statement issued after the summit yesterday, Asean leaders welcomed the high-level dialogue and the US policy to engage with the government of Myanmar.

In turn, the US noted Asean's importance in regional issues and agreed to support its presence and initiatives in key multilateral forums such as the Group of20.

The statement also said that both the US and Asean shared a vision of a regional architecture that is 'inclusive, promotes shared values and norms, and respects the diversity within the region'.

'We agreed to work closely together in building this regional architecture,' it added, reaffirming the centrality of Asean in this process.

The inaugural meeting caps a series of recent moves by the Obama administration to improve its relations with Asean.

In his remarks after the meeting, Mr Obama reaffirmed America's commitment to strengthening its engagement in South-east Asia.