[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 129 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S7423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 640--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
       UNITED STATES ENGAGEMENT WITH ASEAN AND ITS MEMBER-STATES

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

                              S. Res. 640

       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.

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