President: World needs balanced economic growth

Antara News, Friday, November 13, 2009 20:39 WIB | Economic & Business

Singapore (ANTARA News) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the world needed a new paradigm, namely balanced economic growth.

He made the statement here on Friday before around 500 business leaders at a CEO Summit held ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

"Let us seize the opportunity in the current crisis to correct imbalances by working together towards more balanced global and regional economic development," he said in his speech titled "Achieving Balanced Growth. What We Must Do."

He said it was important to maintain the Asian trade and investment open as well as between Asia and other parts of the world to overcome global imbalances.

"I am convinced businessmen who are represented here in this room would agree," he said.

The Indonesian head of state said to overcome imbalances in economic development surplus countries had to invest their resources in the most productive investment areas such as infrastructure, education and health to spread productivity.

"Countries suffering a deficit meanwhile have to save more and adopt structural changesn in an effort to reset the mode of unsustainable economic growth," he said.

President Yudhoyono also said the international community also needed to pay attention to countries calling for protection.

"We must face the fact that some countries are facing high unemployment," he said.

President Yudhoyono said the founders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum had been a step ahead in the area.

"Indonesia has always considered that APEC vision is not only an open region for liberalization and facilitation but also capacity development," he said.

President Yudhoyono said trade among APEC members was 40 percent of the total value of the world trade and following the implementation of free trade and investment the total value of the gross domestic product of its members had risen from 47 percent to 56 percent of the world`s GDP in the past 20 years.

"Furthermore, the value of 67 percent of trade among APEC members is even far bigger than that of the European Union," he said.

APEC which was established in 1989 in Canberra, Australia, now has 21 members.

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Getting connected

The Jakarta Post, Thu, 11/12/2009 7:48 PM

Information and Communications Minister Tifatul Sembiring poses with participants during the opening of a meeting between telecommunication ministers and businessmen across the Asia Pacific in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday. (JP/Zul Trio Anggono)

Malaysia, Indonesia to rise above petty issues and strengthen ties

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 11/12/2009 10:51 AM

Sharing thoughts: Visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, left, speaks as his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak looks on during a joint press conference at the latter's office in Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday. AP/Lai Seng Sin

Malaysia and Indonesia will not let petty issues raised by certain quarters to sour ties between the two nations but will instead further the work to strengthen the already close bilateral ties, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Thursday, Malaysian state news agency Bernama has reported.

Speaking at a joint media conference with visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Razak said Malaysia appreciated the presence of foreign workers especially Indonesians in the country.

However, if they broke Malaysian laws, they would have to face the laws of the land, he added.

Meanwhile, Yudhoyono said he chose Malaysia as the first country to visit since his re-election as the Indonesian president because Malaysia is a friend, a neighbor and a strong partner in the development of the race.

HSBC Launches Yuan Trade Settlement Services In Indonesia

The Wall Street Journal

HSBC Holdings PLC (HBC) launched trade transaction services in Indonesia using the Chinese yuan, Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday, citing a senior HSBC official.

Vincent C. Sugianto, head of trade and supply chain HSBC Indonesia, said the service can only be conducted between Chinese firms authorized to make such transactions and their counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to the report.

He said HSBC will provide various yuan transaction services in Indonesia, including trade financing, currency exchange between the rupiah and yuan, and export/import financing.

HSBC now offers yuan trade settlement services in six Asean countries, according to the report. The others are Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Brunei, the report said.

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Indonesia, EU sign partnership agreement

World Bank: yuan to become alternative reserve currency

Reuters, Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:19pm EST

An employee checks U.S. dollar banknotes at a branch of Bank of China in Hefei, Anhui province November 2, 2009. China will refer to changes in capital flows and fluctuations in the values of major currencies when guiding the value of the yuan, the central bank said on Wednesday, in a departure from past language. (REUTERS/Stringer)

SINGAPORE, Nov 11 (Reuters) - World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Wednesday that the U.S. dollar's role as a reserve currency was "relatively secure", but the Chinese yuan will provide an alternative over time.

"Over the next 10-15 years, you will firstly see renminbi to be internationalised and provide an alternative," he said at a World Bank conference in Singapore.

Zoellick also said the U.S. should not be complacent about the dollar. (Reporting by Kevin Lim and Kevin Yao; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)

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Thaksin takes up new job in Cambodia

Daily Nation, PHNOM PENH, Tuesday November 10 2009 at 19:11

Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra prepares to enter a car at a military air base in Phnom Penh November 10, 2009. Thaksin who is wanted at home for a graft conviction, arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday to take up a job offer from the government that has set off a diplomatic row with Bangkok. REUTERS

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, wanted at home for a graft conviction, arrived in Cambodia today to take up a government job offer that has set off a diplomatic row with Bangkok.

“Thaksin is now in Cambodia. He flew in on a special flight and just landed at the military airport,” Mr Khieu Kanharith, Cambodia’s information minister, told Reuters.

The former telecoms tycoon lives in self-imposed exile after being toppled in a 2006 coup and later found guilty on a conflict of interest charge. He spends much of his time in Dubai.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has made Mr Thaksin an economic adviser to his government and offered him a home in Cambodia. Thaksin has said he does not intend to live there. Witnesses reported heavy security for his arrival, with black-uniformed troops carrying rifles deployed on the road into the capital from the airport.

It was not clear how long he would stay. Officials said he would meet Mr Hun Sen on Tuesday.

He is scheduled to give a lecture on Thursday to 300 economists at the Finance Ministry.

Thailand’s government is outraged at the Cambodian move, not only because it sees Thaksin as a fugitive from justice but because he now has a base across the border from which to organise his campaign to force new elections and return home.

Analysts say the move could give momentum to the pro-Thaksin camp, heightening investor concerns about protracted instability. (Reuters)

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Chinese president arrives in Kuala Lumpur for state visit

www.chinaview.cn 2009-11-10 15:34:23

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) is greeted upon his arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 10, 2009. Hu Jintao arrived here Tuesday for a state visit to enhance strategic cooperation between China and Malaysia. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Photo Gallery>>>

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived here Tuesday for a state visit to enhance strategic cooperation between China and Malaysia.

This is the first state visit to Malaysia by a Chinese head of state in the past 15 years.

During his stay in Malaysia, Hu will hold talks with Supreme Head of State Mizan Abidin and meet with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue at a news briefing last Friday.

"President Hu's visit to Malaysia will surely further deepen strategic cooperation between the two nations and advance bilateral ties," he said.

China-Malaysia relations have developed smoothly since the two countries established diplomatic relations 35 years ago, with frequent exchanges of high-level visits, increasing political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in trade, energy and infrastructure.

Malaysia has become China's largest trading partner among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The two-way trade between the two Asian countries reached 53.47billion U.S. dollars in 2008, two years ahead of a target of 50 billion U.S. dollars set by Chinese and Malaysian leaders.

The two countries have also worked together to promote cooperation in East Asia and maintained coordination to deal with the international financial crisis.

Najib visited China in June. During the visit, the Chinese and Malaysian governments signed a joint action plan on strategic cooperation.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman described President Hu's visit to Malaysia as "another milestone" in the course of development of bilateral relations since China and Malaysia set up diplomatic ties in 1974.

He said that Malaysia attaches great importance to the visit by the Chinese president.

From Malaysia, Hu will fly to Singapore for a state visit and to attend the Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) scheduled for Nov. 14-15.

Special report: President Hu Visits Malaysia, Singapore, Attends APEC summit

ASEAN, US to discuss Myanmar's Suu Kyi in its first meeting

Lilian Budianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 11/09/2009 3:09 PM

The plight of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi will be among the issues discussed during the first meeting of ASEAN and the United States leaders on Nov. 15 in Singapore.

The meeting between US and ten ASEAN members is conducted to follow up the signing of the group's security treaty by Washington in July, said the foreign ministry on Monday.

The US signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, which pledged peaceful settlement of disputes and non-interference in domestic affairs.

The foreign ministry said the meeting will also discuss implementation of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between ASEAN and the US.

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Indonesia, EU sign partnership agreement

Ary Hermawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 11/09/2009 4:06 PM

Indonesia and the European Union signed on Monday the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which the EU said was “the first of its kind to be signed with an Asian country.”

The agreement, signed by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt, whose country is currently holding the EU presidency, will serve as the legal framework and a guideline for deeper cooperation between the two parties in boosting trade and addressing issues like climate change and terrorism.

“Given the PCA’s comprehensive nature and content it will significantly enhance ties in terms of political profile, the scope of cooperation, and the range of dialog,” the EU said in a statement outlining the PCA. Previously, EU-Indonesia cooperation was based on the 1980 agreement between EU and ASEAN countries.

The Foreign Ministry said the PCA will prioritize cooperation in four areas; trade and investment, environment, education and human rights.

“Indonesia and the EU officially launched a human rights dialog today with the goal of regularly discussing cooperation and issues of mutual interest related to human rights.”

Trade relations between Indonesia and the EU have exceeded 20 billion euros and is growing at 6 percent per year, the ministry said, highlighting the importance of EU as one of Indonesia's largest export destinations.

The EU said it had begun channeling 15 million euros to Indonesia’s export agencies through its Trade Support Program to boost exports and refine trade policy. It will also launch the EU-funded Economic Cooperation Facility next year to help Indonesian firms meet the requirements of exporting and be more competitive in the global market.

1st US-Asean leaders' summit

The Strait Times, Chua Chin Hon

President Obama meets with Singapore's former leader Lee Kuan Yew last week in the Oval Office. (Gerald Herbert/associated Press)

WASHINGTON - THE United States will cap a year of markedly increased engagement with Asean with the first-ever leaders' summit next Sunday.

But it is as yet unclear if the US-Asean summit will become an annual affair, and analysts cautioned against high expectations.

'Don't hold your breath for big home runs coming out of that meeting,' said Mr Ernest Bower, a South-east Asian expert with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

'I don't think there will be significant new statements about new money or new training. Being there is what's important this year.'

The Obama administration has indeed backed up its 'we are back' message to the neglected region with several high-profile visits in recent months.

Indonesia was one of the stops when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Asia as part of her first foreign trip in February. She also visited the Asean Secretariat when she was in Jakarta, the first top-ranking US diplomat to do so.

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China pledges $10bn Africa loans

BBC News

China has cultivated strong economic ties with Africa

China has pledged to give Africa $10bn (£6bn) in concessional loans over the next three years, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said at a summit in Egypt.

The Chinese leader is attending a two-day forum on China-Africa cooperation in Sharm el-Sheikh, attended by officials from 50 nations.

"We will help Africa build up financing capacity," Mr Wen told the summit.

Several heads of state and government are attending the meeting, including the Presidents of Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak inaugurated the forum, the fourth of its kind, and spoke of "peace, security and growth," and of "boosting cooperation between China and Africa."

Mr Wen also said China is planning to create environmental programmes for Africa, including 100 clean energy projects.

China pledged $5bn (£3bn) of assistance at the last cooperation summit in Beijing in 2006, and signed agreements to relieve or cancel the debt of more than 30 African countries.

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Commentary: Diversity of civilizations deserves respect

www.chinaview.cn, by Xinhua writers Lin Liping, Feng Jian, 2009-11-08 05:15:42

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivers a speech at the headquarters of the Arab League in downtown Cairo Nov. 7, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Photo Gallery>>>

CAIRO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Delivering a speech at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, capital of Egypt, on Saturday, visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao described the world as full of colors and with different civilizations which constitute cultural diversity.

The history of human civilization has testified that cultural diversity is necessary for human prosperity, and dialogue, exchange and integration among different civilizations have formed an irreversible historical trend and a necessity for the improvement and continuous development of civilizations.

"Dialogue, exchange and integration among different civilizations form the powerful current of human civilization surging ahead ceaselessly," Wen said.

Today's world is home to over 200 countries and regions, more than 2,500 ethnic groups and 6,000-plus languages, the Chinese premier cited just a few numbers to demonstrate the diversity.

Under the current international circumstance which is undergoing profound and complex changes featuring increasingly deepened world multi-polarization and economic globalization, peace and development remain the two main themes facing the human society.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) stands with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa at the headquarters of the Arab League in downtown Cairo Nov. 7, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Photo Gallery>>>

The maintenance of world peace and the pursuit of social stability and common development have become the common and shared aspiration of all peoples. Therefore, dialogue on equal footing between different civilizations is of great practical significance.

Dialogue among civilizations as conducive to enhancing mutual understanding and harmonious co-existence among peoples, to promoting constant progress of human society, to promoting the establishment of a just and rational new international order, and to promoting diversification of the world and the sharing of human civilization.

In 1956, seven years after its founding, the People's Republic of China established contacts with the Arab League. Over the next few decades, mutual understanding and support gained momentum. In the recent decade, the two sides have witnessed even closer ties and have maintained coordination and mutual support in international affairs.

In January 2004, during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, China and the Arab League announced the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.

In the following several years, a variety of cultural exchange activities has deepened understanding between both sides, and the forum became a new platform for promoting China-Arab friendly relations.

With an accelerated pace of globalization, peoples of different cultural backgrounds have the urgent need for mutual understanding and learning from each other, only through which a solid foundation can be laid for sustainable cooperation between different nations.

China and the Arab countries are all developing countries, which share a common aspiration of peace, stability and development. In recent years, both sides have continued to strengthen economic and trade exchanges, high-level visits and cultural exchanges.

Both sides, therefore, have every reason to believe that through more dialogue and exchanges, the Chinese civilization and Islamic civilization will be able to continue to enrich themselves, respect each other, co-exist harmoniously and develop together in a world that embraces diversity, and both sides will adopt a strategic perspective and proceed from the long-term interests of the peoples on both sides to unswervingly promote the stable and comprehensive development of the China-Arab relations and open a new chapter for the China-Arab friendly and cooperative relationship.

Special report: Wen visits Egypt, attends China-Africa forum

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ASEAN+3 to expand regional media cooperation

MCOT

VIENTIANE, Nov 6 (TNA) – A regional meeting of information ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its three dialogue partners on Friday assigned their senior officials to draw up a work plan on ASEAN+3 cooperation in information to promote better understanding and strengthen community building in the region.

In the first conference hailed as the “formal start of cooperation in the information sector” of the Ministers Responsible for Information in ASEAN (AMRI) and the Plus 3 countries-- China, Japan and the Republic of Korea--held in the capital of Lao PDR, the ministers discussed ways in which ASEAN and the Plus 3 countries could collaborate in the information sector, including in digital broadcasting, co-production in digital content and media exchanges, according to an official statement released on Friday.

Among proposals being suggested to foster media cooperation in the region, Mr Wang Chen, China’s Minister of State Council Information Office,

offered to mobilised media resources, extend cooperation fields and improve the quality and level of cooperation as well as raising the level of information exchange and media cooperation.

Mr Akira Terasaki, Japan’s Vice Minister for Policy Coordination, offered to contribute to ASEAN member countries its experience in digitalizing TV and the circulation of good quality programmes.

The Japanese government, he said, has set target to complete transition from analog TV broadcasting to digital broadcasting by July, 24, 2011.

Realising the member states are at different stages of readiness for digital TV implementation, The ASEAN ministers agreed during their one-day

meeting on Thursday that ASEAN adopts a phased approach towards analogue switch-off from 2015-2020.

Guidelines will be developed for digital switch-on as well as a common set of technical specifications for standard digital set-top boxes for ASEAN to help lower the price for regional consumers, the statement said.

They also agreed on the need for greater collaboration with ASEAN dialogue partners to promote ASEAN to the international community.

In an effort to diversify and intensify media cooperation in the region, Mr Kim Dae Ki, Republic of Korea’s Vice Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism, proposed regional cooperation through joint international production of broadcast content, exchange programmes of journalists and joint translation and publication projects.

ASEAN regional grouping comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The 11th AMRI is tentatively scheduled to be held in Malaysia in 2011.

ASEAN Primary School Sport Olympiad opened

Antara News, Tuesday, November 3, 2009 21:19 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Education Minister Prof Dr Muhammad Nuh opened the ASEAN Primary School Sport Olympiad (APSSO) III/2009 here on Tuesday.

"Enjoy the competition. We hope brotherhood among ASEAN member countries will rise. Enjoy making achievements," he said in his opening remarks.

Around 300 athletes and officials from eight countries attended the event.

The opening ceremony was also attended by state minister for sports and youth affairs Andi Mallarangeng, the general chairperson of the Indonesian National Sports Commitee, Rita Subowo, and representative officials from sport branches competed in the event.

The eight countries participating in the event are Indonesia with 113 athletes and officials, Brunei Darussalam (24), Malaysia (36), Myanmar (13), the Philippines (36), Singapore (30), Thailand (9) and Vietnam (39). Laos and Cambodia were absent.

The ASEAN athletes would compete in five branches in the event.

The number of participants rose from last year when only seven countries took part.

Thailand however would only play in the badminton event while Myanmar in football.

Indonesia fields 113 athletes because as the host it has a right to field three teams namely Indonesia 1, 2 and 3.

Last year Indonesia came out as the overall winner collecting 12 gold medals, nine silve and 11 bronze medals from five branches competed.

The country`s success in the event for elementary school children did not include the football event which was won by Malaysia who beat Indonesia through penalty kicks.

Indonesia was also the overall champion in the APSSO I/2007 winning six gold, five silver and four bronze medals from three branches competed.

ASEAN-US summit to discuss Suu Kyi: Singapore

MySinchew , 2009-11-03 17:46

SINGAPORE, Nov 3 (AFP) - Detained Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be discussed when US President Barack Obama meets Southeast Asian leaders this month, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday.

Lee, who will host the US-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on November 15, described the inaugural meeting as a "significant step forward" in relations between Washington and ASEAN.

The event marks the first time a US leader will be in one room with counterparts from all 10 ASEAN states. It will follow a meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group, also in the city-state.

Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein is expected to attend, Lee said.

Washington's ties with ASEAN had been hobbled by its position on Myanmar, whose military regime has been accused of human rights violations, including the continued detention of Suu Kyi and other dissidents.

But in a recent policy shift, the Obama administration decided to re-engage with Myanmar, while maintaining a critical view on certain issues.

Regarding "Aung San Suu Kyi, I think ASEAN's view is clear and we've always said that we believe she ought to be released," Lee said at a news conference ahead of the APEC meeting.

"I'm sure this will be discussed in the US-ASEAN summit too and I'm sure both sides will state their views."

Lee described the ASEAN-US summit as "a good sign because the US... is now moving to engage Myanmar and I think Myanmar is engaging."

He spoke as two senior US envoys arrived in Myanmar for talks with the ruling junta and Suu Kyi, the highest level visit to the country in 14 years.

"This is all to the good because our view has always been that ostracising Myanmar and cutting it off altogether is not the constructive way forward. It is unlikely to yield any results," Lee said.

Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi had her house arrest extended in August for 18 months after she was convicted over an incident in which an American man swam to her home. This effectively sidelines her from elections planned for next year, analysts say.

Apart from Myanmar and Singapore, ASEAN also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

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11 Malaysians stranded in Tolitoli

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu | Sun, 11/01/2009 5:38 PM

Eleven Malaysians, were found by fishermen in waters off Sulawesi on Sunday.

It was reported the speedboat they were taking ran out of fuel and caused them to be stranded out at sea. Three men died before being discovered by Tolitolu fisherman.

M. Ilham, the secretary of North Dampal subdistrict, said the Malaysians had received medical treatment at the Ogotua Public Health Center in North Dampal, Tolitoli.

“We will probably bury those who have died here [in North Dampal], too,” Ilham said.

He added they had departed from Lahar Batu, Malaysia, 8 days ago and were heading to the Philippines.

“The speedboat was overcapacity. There should only have been six people onboard,” he said.

Dead fish drifting in Indonesia after oil leak

The Jakarta Post

The Associated Press | Fri, 10/30/2009 6:32 PM

Thousands of dead fish and clumps of oil have been found drifting near Indonesia's coastline more than two months after an underwater well began leaking in the Timor Sea, officials and fishermen said.

Oil rig in Timor Sea catches on fire

An estimated 400 barrels a day of oil has been leaking from a fissure that erupted on Aug. 21 at a rig about 150 miles (250 kilometers) off the Australian coast. PTTEP Australasia, a branch of Thai-owned PTT Exploration and Production Co. Ltd., has failed repeatedly to stop the leak but says it is still trying.

The head of the World Wildlife Fund Australia, Gilly Llewellyn, said Friday that the early impact of the spill is beginning to become clear.

"This is shaping up to be one of the largest (spills) in Australian history," Llewellyn said in an interview. "It is one of the most diverse marine habitats in the world. The impact could be over weeks, months, years."

It is still unclear how far the spill has actually spread because much of it may be undersea, Llewellyn said.

But a slick has drifted hundreds of miles (kilometers) toward the impoverished Indonesian province of East Nusatenggara, where fishermen say they have seen thousands of dead fish drifting.

Residents in the seaside villages of Nunkolo and Bandi, located on small islands off the coast of West Timor, were suffering skin problems and acute diarrhea after eating contaminated fish, local environmental groups said.

"Fishermen have been facing serious difficulties for the past month," Ferdi Tanoni, chairman of the West Timor Care Foundation, said. "Villagers' income dropped by 80 percent because many fish died or smelled oily."

If estimates of the amount of oil leakage per day are accurate, the current size of the spill would have reached nearly 1.2 million gallons (more than 5.3 million liters).

There are fears it could harm whales, turtles and dolphins - some of them rare - living in the deep waters.

Several dead sea snakes and birds have been found in oil and are believed to have been killed by the slick, although tests have not yet determined the cause of death, Llewellyn said.

Samples taken by West Timor's Regional Environmental Agency in waters roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) off the coast found high concentrations of oil and, in one out of every four tests, dead fish.

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Obama reaches out to Asean

US President to invite all 10 leaders of regional grouping to Washington next year

By KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN, THE NATION ON SUNDAY, November 1, 2009

President Barack Obama plans to invite all 10 Asean leaders to the United States next year in a move to further strengthen Asean-US relations at the highest level.

Kurt Campbell, the assistant state secretary for East Asia and Pacific, revealed during an informal talk with international participants attending a conference in Washington on Burma last week that Obama would make an official announcement during the upcoming Asean-US summit in Singapore.

He said the president wanted to listen to the Asean leaders and would not lecture to them.

According to a source who attended the conference, Obama is keen to come to Singapore and meet the Asean leaders. He had earlier met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the G-20 summits in London and Pittsburgh this year.

The Asean-US summit is scheduled for November 15 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore. The 90-minute session will be co-chaired by Obama and Abhisit.

Details of the agenda and the joint statement will be worked out later this week by the Philippines, the coordinator for the Asean-US meeting.

The planned invitation points to a clear US intention to have regular meetings with Asean leaders. At the moment, senior officials from both sides are negotiating whether to use the word "summit" or "leaders' meeting". Some senior US officials do not want such a yearly commitment.

US-Asean relations have been bolstered by the new US policy towards Asia. In August, Washington signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with Asean, which further strengthened the three-decade-old relationship.

The US-Asean summit was first planned in September 2007 in Singapore but then-president George W Bush called it off at the last minute due to his tight schedule at home. All 10 Asean leaders will attend the Singapore summit this month.

Bush met Asean leaders three times during his tenure - in October 2002 in Los Cabos, Mexico; in December 2005 in Busan, South Korea; and in September 2007, in Sydney. But these occasions were part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum leaders' meetings, and as a result only seven Asean members could attend. Cambodia, Laos and Burma are not members of Apec.

From the Asean side, as co-chair, Abhisit will be the first to speak, followed by the country coordinator, the Philippines, and the host, Singapore.

Topping the summit's agenda will be a review of Asean-US relations in the past three decades, as well as regional and international issues. The issue of Burma could be raised under this item.

The outcome of Campbell's scheduled visit this week to Rangoon, and the highly anticipated meeting with Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, could be brought up.

The parties are also expected to discuss an Asean-US free-trade agreement, which was proposed by Senator Richard Lugar last month. He said an FTA should be part of a comprehensive strategy towards Asean.

"China, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea have already finalised FTAs with Asean and are sharpening their competitive edge over the US in Southeast Asia," Lugar said.

Asean-US trade increased from US$161 billion (Bt5.3 trillion) in 2006 to more than $178 billion last year. US investment in Asean grew from $3.4 billion in 2006 to $6.3 billion in 2007.

Other key dialogue partners such as China, Japan, South Korea and India have an annual summit with Asean leaders. Russia is planning a second summit next year in Hanoi under the new Asean chair, Vietnam.