US, ASEAN NEED TO STRENGTHEN TIES - CLINTON

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, July 21 (Bernama) -- The United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are old friends facing new challenges.

Thus, both must forge new partnerships to meet the demands of changing
times, said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Writing in the Bangkok Post in conjunction with her visit to Thailand, she
said no one nation could meet today's global challenges alone, from climate
change and the economic crisis to threats of nuclear proliferation and violent
extremism.

"And, Friday's tragic attacks in Jakarta remind us that no nation will be
secure if we do not meet these challenges together," said Clinton, who would be
attending the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) here and sign the Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) with the 10-member grouping.

Nine people were killed during bombings at two American luxury hotels in
Jakarta. Clinton said that was why cooperation -- be it bilateral, multilateral,
and people-to-people -- was so important, adding that they might not always
agree on every issue but could build on partnership based on mutual
responsibility and mutual respect.

Saying that the country was home to 13 million Asian-American citizens,
Clinton, who is due to meet Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in Bangkok
today before flying to the resort island on Wednesday, said the US was committed
to active partnerships in Asia.

"This week, I am returning to Thailand for meetings of Asean and the ARF.
These multilateral institutions have a vital role to play, but as the challenges
we face evolve, so too, must our institutions," said the former presidential
candidate who visited Jakarta last February.

Clinton said the US supported a strong Asean that could provide real results
for the people of the region.

"We were the first Dialogue Partner to name a permanent ambassador for
Asean, ensuring that our lines of communication are open and our efforts closely
coordinated. And earlier this year, I announced that the United States would
pursue accession to the TAC," she added.

She said, the world's sole super power would continue to seek new
opportunities to work with Asean and partners across the region, including key
treaty allies Japan, Korea, Australia, Thailand and the Philippines, to advance
mutual interests and meet their shared challenges.

On the situation in Myanmar which she considered as particularly challenging
for Asean, Clinton said the US looked forward to working with Asean members on
finding ways to bring positive changes to the country that would benefit all the
people there and the region, as a whole.

"As (US) President (Barack) Obama said in Egypt and Ghana, democratic and
economic development go hand-in-hand. Democracy and the rule of law can
transform people's lives and open new doors of opportunity. This is true in
Southeast Asia and around the world," she added.

To promote economic recovery and greater shared prosperity, she said the US
would continue working to expand trade and investments, adding that two-way
trade between Asean and the US exceeded US$178 billion.

"Working together -- in Thailand, across Southeast Asia, and around the
world -- is the key to building a brighter future for us all," said the former
First Lady.