Asia-Pacific region holds vital importance to US: Obama Admn

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Mar 16 (PTI) Marked by a number of rising
powers like India and China, the Asia Pacific region is of
vital importance to the US, the Obama Administration has said.
President Barack Obama's visit to Guam, Indonesia and
Australia next week is "designed to highlight the importance
of the Asia-Pacific region to the US," Jaff Bader, National
Security Council's Senior Director for Asian Affairs, told
reporters here.
"This (Asia-Pacific) is a part of the world that's marked
by a number of rising powers, namely China and India; a number
of existing powers, Japan and South Korea; and some emerging
important countries and powers like Vietnam and Indonesia."
Obama's trip highlights the changing global governance
faced by the world in the 21st century, Bader said.
"When we were in Copenhagen (for climate talks in
December last year), we saw the decisive meeting at the end of
the conference. The players in the room were China, India,
South Africa, Brazil and the United States. This is something
that wouldn't have happened ... 20 years ago.
"And this is a -- this is a sign of the change that has
occurred in the number of countries that are participating
in major global decisions," he said.
"In that context there are a number of important middle
powers ... like Australia and Indonesia -- who are significant
players on these kinds of decisions."
In the G-20, which is the major emerging economic
governance instrument, both Australia and Indonesia are
important players, Badar said. PTI LKJ
KAB