[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 45 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S3226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 110--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
   30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ASEAN-UNITED STATES DIALOGUE AND RELATIONSHIP

  Mr. LUGAR (for himself, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Boxer, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. 
Hagel, Mr. Bond, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Webb, and Mr. Akaka) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 110

       Whereas the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
     (referred to in this resolution as ``ASEAN''), was 
     established in 1967, with Indonesia, Malaysia, the 
     Philippines, Singapore and Thailand as the initial members;
       Whereas the membership of ASEAN has expanded to 10 
     countries since its establishment in 1967, and now includes 
     Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the 
     Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam;
       Whereas the United States-ASEAN dialogue and relationship 
     began in 1977;
       Whereas the countries of ASEAN constitute the 3rd largest 
     export market for the United States, have received 
     approximately $90,000,000,000 in direct investment from the 
     United States, and are developing an integrated free trade 
     area;
       Whereas trade between the United States and the countries 
     of ASEAN totals nearly $170,000,000,000 annually;
       Whereas ASEAN is committed to accelerated economic growth, 
     social progress, cultural development, and regional peace and 
     stability;
       Whereas ASEAN is committed to developing a regional energy 
     security strategy;
       Whereas nearly 40,000 students from ASEAN countries are 
     studying in the United States;
       Whereas ASEAN countries share common concerns with the 
     United States, including the spread of avian influenza and 
     other diseases, and environmental issues, such as the 
     preservation of biodiversity and illegal logging;
       Whereas ASEAN countries continue to partner with the United 
     States against global terrorism;
       Whereas the Senate passed legislation authorizing the 
     establishment of the position of United States Ambassador for 
     ASEAN Affairs; and
       Whereas United States officials announced in August of 2006 
     that an Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs will be appointed: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (A) the United States and the ASEAN countries should 
     continue implementing the ASEAN-United States Enhanced 
     Partnership, with emphasis on the agreed upon specific 
     priority measures for cooperation in 2007;
       (B) the United States should proceed with appointing a 
     United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs;
       (C) the United States should work with the countries of 
     ASEAN in developing a regional energy strategy;
       (D) the United States should provide greater emphasis and 
     support toward encouraging students from ASEAN countries to 
     study in the United States, and American students to study in 
     ASEAN countries; and
       (E) the United States should continue to support the work 
     of multilateral financial institutions, including the Asian 
     Development Bank and the World Bank in ASEAN countries, and 
     to encourage additional transparency and anticorruption 
     efforts by those institutions, for the benefit of the ASEAN 
     countries where they operate;
       (2) the Senate welcomes the initiation of a Fulbright 
     Program for ASEAN scholars; and
       (3) the Senate welcomes and encourages planning by the 
     countries of ASEAN and the United States for an ASEAN-United 
     States Summit in 2007.

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, since its inception in 1967, the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been a trusted friend of the 
United States. The original five-member countries of Indonesia, 
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, were joined by Brunei 
Darussalam in 1984. Beginning in the late 1960s, U.S. officials today 
continue to interact with ASEAN regarding mutual interests in East and 
Southeast Asia. Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Cambodia joined ASEAN after 
1994.
  The level of intersects between ASEAN and the United States is 
immense, including student exchanges, business and trade, and security 
cooperation. ASEAN is the third largest export destination of American 
products.
  It is important to note that ASEAN is continually changing, with the 
pursuit of economic integration. As noted by the ASEAN Secretariat, 
ASEAN officials hope to create ``a stable, prosperous and highly 
competitive ASEAN economic region in which there is a free flow of 
goods, services and investment and a freer flow of capital, equitable, 
economic development and reduced poverty and socio-economic disparities 
in year 2020.'' Last year alone, there were over 500 meetings of ASEAN 
officials--it is a vibrant regional structure.
  Committed to promoting regional peace and harmony, there has been no 
armed confrontation among ASEAN member nations, since ASEAN's 
beginning. An important part of ASEAN's future security lies in the 
development of a regional energy security strategy. This endeavor is 
well underway, and the United States looks forward to future dialogue 
on ways in which meaningful cooperation can occur.
  Continued collaboration between ASEAN, the United States and the 
World Health Organization on addressing major disease challenges, such 
as Avian influenza is of the essence. All involved must act with 
vigilance and in a timely way.
  While ASEAN and the United States have shared appreciation for the 
challenges of terrorism, our relationship is far more complex. For the 
benefit of my colleagues, I point to recent remarks conveyed to me by 
Singapore's esteemed Ambassador-at-Large, Tommy Koh, who wrote 
``ASEAN's relationship with the U.S. is its most important 
relationship. It is a mutually beneficial relationship. However, ASEAN 
often feels that it has been treated by the U.S. with benign neglect 
and viewed solely through the prism of terrorism. We hope, on this 30th 
anniversary year of the U.S.-ASEAN dialogue relationship, that the U.S. 
will develop a coherent strategy and policy to engage ASEAN, upgrade 
our priority and make the U.S. the best friend of ASEAN.''
  Full implementation of the ASEAN-United States Enhanced Partnership 
and appointment of the U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs are important 
steps in growing this important bilateral relationship.
  I am pleased to introduce this resolution commemorating the 30th 
anniversary of the U.S.-ASEAN dialogue. It is a message of 
reaffirmation and deep appreciation by the United States Senate. We 
look forward to an even closer future partnership on many fronts, 
yielding mutual benefit for the people of ASEAN and the United States.

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