[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 640 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 640

 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding United States engagement 
                   with ASEAN and its member-states.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 23, 2010

     Mr. Kerry (for himself and Mr. Webb) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding United States engagement 
                   with ASEAN and its member-states.

Whereas the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded in 1967 
        ``to strengthen further the existing bonds of regional solidarity and 
        cooperation'';
Whereas ASEAN membership has now expanded to include 10 countries, which 
        together span over half the size of the continental United States, with 
        a total population of nearly 600,000,000 persons;
Whereas ASEAN is an important contributor to stability and prosperity in the 
        Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas ASEAN partners with the United States Government and others in the 
        international community to address transnational problems like 
        terrorism, environmental degradation, the international financial 
        crisis, and maritime security;
Whereas the ASEAN Charter, approved by Southeast Asia's leaders in November 
        2007, codified norms for the behavior of ASEAN member-states toward 
        their own citizens, covering such subjects as individual rights, 
        democracy, the rule of law, and good governance;
Whereas the combined economy of ASEAN's member countries, valued at 
        approximately $1,500,000,000,000 in 2008, constitutes the fourth largest 
        market for United States exports, and two-way United States-ASEAN trade 
        in goods and services totaled over $200,000,000,000 in 2008;
Whereas Southeast Asia is the largest destination for United States foreign 
        direct investment in Asia;
Whereas almost 40,000 students from ASEAN countries studied in the United States 
        in 2008, and an increasing number of United States citizens are studying 
        abroad in these countries;
Whereas the United States Government recognizes the centrality of ASEAN to 
        regional cooperation and problem-solving in the Asia Pacific;
Whereas the United States was the first country to appoint an Ambassador to 
        ASEAN;
Whereas the United States acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 
        Southeast Asia during the July 2009 ASEAN ministerial meetings in 
        Thailand;
Whereas the United States launched a new collaboration with the Lower Mekong 
        Countries--Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam--in the areas of the 
        environment, health, and education in July 2009 in Thailand;
Whereas President Barack Obama stated at the first meeting of the leaders of 
        ASEAN and the United States held in Singapore in November 2009, ``The 
        United States is committed to strengthening its engagement in Southeast 
        Asia both with our individual allies and partners, and with ASEAN as an 
        institution.'';
Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at the July 2010 ASEAN 
        ministerial meetings in Vietnam that the United States was ``committed 
        to assisting the nations of Southeast Asia to remain strong and 
        independent, and [to helping ensure] that each nation enjoys peace, 
        stability, prosperity, and access to universal human rights'';
Whereas Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates have 
        stated the intention of the United States to increase participation in 
        regional institutions, including the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN 
        Defense Ministers Meeting Plus Eight, both to be held in October 2010 in 
        Vietnam; and
Whereas the second meeting of ASEAN and United States Government leaders, and 
        the first to be hosted by the United States, will take place in New York 
        City, New York on September 24, 2010: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate--
            (1) to welcome the leaders of ASEAN to the United States 
        for the second ASEAN-United States summit meeting;
            (2) that the decision to host the second ASEAN-United 
        States summit in New York City reflects the importance of ASEAN 
        and its member-states to the United States, and the importance 
        of the United States to ASEAN and its member-states;
            (3) that the United States Government should continue to 
        seek ways to broaden and deepen its economic, political-
        security, social, and cultural engagement with the countries in 
        Southeast Asia toward a closer partnership with ASEAN and its 
        member-states, as well as other regional institutions in the 
        Asia-Pacific region;
            (4) that the United States Government is committed to 
        working with all ASEAN member-states to encourage the 
        development of open and free democratic institutions in Burma 
        that allow for the full participation of political opposition 
        and ethnic minority groups; and
            (5) that a stronger, more integrated ASEAN serves shared 
        interests in regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
                                 <all>