US-Asean Summit scheduled in Singapore
US President George W Bush has agreed to hold a summit meeting with the Asean leaders in Singapore ahead of the Apec leaders meeting Sydney in September.
An informed source told The Nation that the summit which will be held in Singapore on 5 September, will commemorate the 30th anniversary of US-Asean relations. Singpaore is host of the upcoming Asean summit, which will celebrate the 40-year old organization.
The meeting was agreed during the recent visit to Washington DC by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The US considered the island a strategic partner in its global counter terrorism strategies.
Bush met with the other Asean leaders previously along side the Apec meeting such as the one in Busan, South Korea in 2005. Asean would like to establish the so-called Asean plus one process, which the grouping has enjoyed all key major powers including China, India, Russia and other dialogue partner.
The source could not confirm that the inaugural Asean-US summit would be institutionalized in the future. Although both sides have enjoyed good cooperation under the establishment of 7 cooperation framework; in comparison, China has forth-eight all together.
Thai Prime Minister Gen Surayud Julanont is scheduled to attend the summit. He is scheduled to have two-eye meeting with Bush in Singapore. During the recent visit by Christopher Hill, Assistant State Secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs at the Government House also discussed this possibility with the Thai side.
Thai-US relations have suffered followed the coup last September. US lawmakers have strongly criticized Thailand for the coup and expressed concerns over the restriction of press freedom in the country.
The source said Burma will be included in the summit meeting in Singapore. The modality of the meeting is still under discussion. In previous meetings, the Burmese delegation was represent by junior level officials.
US has maintained a strong anti-Burma policy and has called for the release of Aung Sann Suu Kyi, the opposition leader, who has been in incaceration for past 12 years. The Rangoon junta extended her house-arrest at the end of last year against the outcries of international community.
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