US Secretary of State Hillary Rhodam Clinton said on Wednesday that the United States must have strong relations with Southeast Asian countries as the region is one of key solutions for addressing problems such as global economic crisis and global security.
Clinton made the statement in a joint press conference with ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
Clinton said that the United States would launch formal interagency process to strengthen cooperation and friendship between the US and the Southeast Asian region.
With Indonesia, she said that the biggest Muslim country had demonstrated a harmony of Islam, democracy and modernity.
"So today I am proud to announce that the Obama's administration will launch our formal interagency process to pursue accession to the treaty of amity and cooperation in Southeast Asia," said Clinton.
"We have been taking this step because we believe that the Untied States must have a strong relationship and a strong and productive present here in the Southeast Asia. This region is vital to the future," she added.
The Secretary of State noted that the region was a significant and trade-oriented regional economy, a critical strategic location and a number of countries lied on it would be key to any solution of the issues such as the climate change, counter terrorism, global health.
A US-ASEAN partnership is important for the US new approach to development and diplomacy, she said.
With various religion diversity, Clinton said that ASEAN region was important for rigorous and vigorous diplomacy. She stressed Indonesia as an example.
"Here we are in Indonesia which has demonstrated to the entire world that Islam, democracy, and modernity can exist very successfully," she said.
Most of Indonesia's 230 million population are Muslim, making it the world's most populous Muslim country, which exercise strong tolerance with other religions.
To help boosting the economy in Indonesia and the region, Clinton urged the American investors to invest in the areas as she said there would be a great opportunity for growth.
On his turn, ASEAN Secretary General Pitsuwan said that the United States and ASEAN would cooperate to lessen the fallout of the global financial routs. Clinton said that her country commit not to erect trade and other barriers.
"We agreed that we will join hands to coordinate and consolidate, and create synergy to cope with the impact of the global financial crisis and to find the best means to cushion our communities from economic distress," said Pitsuwan.
According to him Clinton reassured that the United Stated would receive the ASEAN products during the global economic downturn.
"I have reiterated to her that the US market will remain open and she said yes we will comply with the WTO regime and rules regulation anyway. So that she certainly reassuring. I think they are making good at their promise, to listen and to cooperate with the regional players," he told reporters after the conference.
Later in the evening she will be meeting with the broad cross section leaders and civil society and non governmental organization in Jakarta.