Text 3647, 157 rader
Skriven 2006-11-16 23:31:16 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0611162) for Thu, 2006 Nov 16
====================================================

===========================================================================
Fact Sheet: Working Together to Build More Hopeful Societies in the
Asia-Pacific Region
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 16, 2006

Fact Sheet: Working Together to Build More Hopeful Societies in the
Asia-Pacific Region



America Must Maintain Its Presence In The Pacific: We Must Seize Our Common
Opportunities, Confront Our Common Threats, And Help Our Partners Build
More Hopeful Societies Throughout This Vital Part Of The World. America
will remain engaged in Asia because our interests depend on the expansion
of freedom and opportunity in this region. Our trade across the Pacific is
greater than our trade across the Atlantic, our businesses see a bright
future in Asia's thriving economies and rising middle class, and we see
threats like terrorism, proliferation, and disease that have the potential
to undermine our prosperity and put our future in doubt.
  ū The United States Has Long Recognized That It Is In Our Interest To
    Help Expand Hope And Opportunity Throughout Asia, And Our Policies Have
    Reflected This Commitment For More Than Six Decades. By opening our
    doors to Asian goods and maintaining a strong military presence in the
    region, America has helped contribute to the modern and confident Asia
    we see today: a region where people's incomes and opportunities are
    rising, where businesses compete in a global economy, and where
    citizens know that a world growing in trade is a world expanding in
    opportunity.

Building More Hopeful Societies Starts With Opening Up To The Opportunities
Of A Global Trading System

Only An Ambitious Doha Agreement With Real Market Access Can Achieve The
Economic Growth And Development Goals That The World Has Set. We look to
nations across the Asia-Pacific region to help put these vital talks back
on track.

To Help Build Momentum For More Open Global Trade, We Are Also Opening Up
Markets With Individual Nations. We have negotiated free trade agreements
with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) partners like Singapore and
Australia, and we are negotiating similar agreements with Malaysia and
South Korea. On the other side of the Pacific, we have successful free
trade agreements with Canada, Mexico, and Chile, and we have concluded
negotiations with Peru.

President Bush Believes The Idea Of A Free Trade Agreement For The Entire
APEC Region Deserves Serious Consideration. The United States believes APEC
is the premier economic forum in the region and has immense potential to
expand free trade and opportunity across the Pacific. We want to help APEC
become a stronger organization that serves as an engine for economic growth
and opportunity throughout the region.

Building More Hopeful Societies Means Working Together To Confront
Challenges Facing The Asia-Pacific Region

Together, We Must Unleash The Same Spirit Of Innovation And Enterprise That
Sparked The Asian Economic Revolution To Spark A New Revolution In Energy
Technology. As the economies of the Asia Pacific thrive and expand, one of
our most pressing needs will be an affordable, reliable supply of energy.
Four of the world's top five energy consumers are APEC members, and the
region's need for energy will continue to rise.
  ū Through The Asia-Pacific Partnership On Clean Development And Climate,
    We Are Working With Australia, China, India, Japan, And South Korea To
    Share Best Practices And Deploy New Energy Technologies. These new
    technologies are helping us improve energy security and air quality and
    cut greenhouse gas emissions. Last month, the partnership announced
    nearly 100 new projects, ranging from clean coal to renewable energy to
    more efficient buildings.
  ū Through The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, America Is Working With
    Other Leaders In Nuclear Energy  Like Russia, France, And Japan  To
    Help Developing Nations Use Civilian Nuclear Energy While Guarding
    Against Weapons Proliferation.
  ū Through The APEC Biofuels Task Force, We Are Working With Nations
    Across The Region To Search For New Ways To Replace Oil With Clean
    Fuels Made From Palm Oil, Sugar Cane, And Other Natural Products.

We Are Working Together To Address The Threat Of Avian Flu. We have taken
important steps to stop the spread of avian flu, and we are increasing
cooperation to help ensure that if a pandemic ever does break out, we will
be as prepared as possible. At the APEC summit, leaders will reaffirm their
responsibilities to report new avian flu cases, contain the spread of
animal outbreaks, and follow wise preparedness plans.

America Is Also Committed To Working With Its Asia-Pacific Partners In The
Fight Against The Pandemic Of HIV/AIDS, With Particular Emphasis On
Vietnam. Since 2004, the United States has provided more than $138 million
to help Vietnam combat this disease.

Our Asia-Pacific Partners Know That They Can Count On America When Disaster
Strikes Suddenly. After the tsunami struck in 2004, we dispatched military
assistance and humanitarian relief to save lives and help devastated
communities rebuild.

Our Commitment Extends Far Beyond Responding To Disasters. We are helping
countries like the Philippines and Indonesia provide their boys and girls
with an education that prepares them to succeed in the global economy.
  ū We Created The Millennium Challenge Account To Provide Financial
    Assistance To Developing Nations That Govern Justly, Invest In Their
    People, And Enforce The Rule Of Law. We have signed a Millennium
    Challenge threshold agreement with the Philippines, we will soon begin
    discussions with Peru, and tomorrow, we will sign an agreement with
    Indonesia.

Building More Hopeful Societies Depends On A Foundation Of Security

The Greatest Danger In Our World Today Is That Terrorists Could Get Their
Hands On Weapons Of Mass Destruction And Use Them To Blackmail Free
Nations, Or Kill On An Unimaginable Scale. In the Asia-Pacific region, the
most immediate threat of proliferation comes from North Korea. After North
Korea's recent nuclear test, the UN Security Council passed a unanimous
resolution that imposes sanctions on North Korea's regime, and America will
work with our partners to enforce those sanctions. We will also continue
working with Japan, China, South Korea, and Russia through the Six Party
Talks.
  ū Our Nations Are Speaking With One Voice: The Only Way For North Korea
    To Move Forward Is To Abandon Its Nuclear Weapons Programs And Rejoin
    The International Community. North Korea recently took an encouraging
    step when it agreed to come back to the table and restart the Six Party
    talks.˙ The United States wants these talks to be successful, and we
    will do our part. But ultimately the success of these talks depends on
    the regime in North Korea: Pyongyang must show it is serious by taking
    concrete steps to implement its agreement to give up its nuclear
    weapons and nuclear programs.

As We Work For A Korean Peninsula Free Of Nuclear Weapons, We Are Also
Strengthening Defense Cooperation In The Asia-Pacific Region. ˙Unlike
Europe, where our security cooperation takes place through the NATO
Alliance, America's security cooperation in Asia takes place largely
through bilateral defense relationships.By building new defense
relationships and strengthening existing alliances, we are ensuring that
the forces of freedom and moderation in this region can defend themselves
against the forces of terror and extremism.
  ū America Also Welcomes The Growing Multilateral Security Cooperation In
    The Region. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia are
    coordinating patrols in the Strait of Malacca and working to combat
    terrorism, piracy, and human trafficking; and through the Proliferation
    Security Initiative, 80 countries are cooperating to stop the spread of
    weapons of mass destruction and related material through the air, land,
    and sea.

In The Long Run, The Surest Path To Security Is The Expansion Of Freedom.
The people of Asia have faith in the power of freedom, because they have
seen freedom transform nations across their continent. Today, millions of
Asians live in freedom that has unleashed the creative talents of people
throughout Asia and helped prosperity sweep across the region.

# # #
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061116-2.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)