Closer ties with US

Mrs Clinton and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem shake hands as foreign ministers and representatives from the Asean look on after they pose for group photos during the ASEAN Regional Forum in Phuket on Thursday. -- PHOTO: AP

The Straits Times
http://www.straitstimes.com

July 24, 2009

PHUKET - ASEAN foreign ministers on Thursday wrapped up four days of meetings, saying the 10-member grouping has been given a boost by a new and closer partnership with the United States as well as specific progression in setting up a new human rights body and a�dispute settlement mechanism.

The ministers also decided on measures to deepen regional integration, most prominently�a plan to improve road, rail, air, shipping and electronic connectivity within and beyond Asean.

It would eventually link China's extensive transport infrastructure with India's expanding�highway system.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation on Tuesday, bringing new life�to the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), which met on Thursday.

'The ARF is a central pillar in the (region's) evolving security architecture,' Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said.

In a�significant development, Mrs Clinton held a first-ever meeting with the Lower Mekong countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

The meetings with ministers from Laos and Cambodia consigned to the past the last vestiges of the Cold War and signalled greater US strategic and investment interest.

The issues of North Korea and Myanmar dominated the ARF meeting. Mrs Clinton spelt out the US and international position on North Korea, and predictably the US position drew a sharp response from Pyongyang.

Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo said that while Asean was not a major player in North-east Asia, the grouping stood with the international community in urging North Korea to return to six-party talks with the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

On Myanmar, its minister, in response to unequivocal messages from Asean, gave the assurance that its elections�would be free and fair.