Singapore - The United States is seeking to enhance its relationship with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) despite its global preoccupations, Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said on Monday. US President George W Bush upset the 10-member regional grouping by calling off plans to attend a summit on September 5 to commemorate 30 years of US-ASEAN ties, because of developments in Iraq.
"We should take this in our stride," Balaji Sadasivan told parliament. "The relationship is strong enough to take these hiccups and we should not forget that if the situation in the Middle East were to get out of hand, South-east Asia will not escape unscathed."
The summit would have been held in Singapore.
"Despite its global preoccupations, the US has been doing what it can to enhance its engagement of ASEAN," Balaji said.
It is looking to appoint a US ambassador for ASEAN affairs, initiate a Fulbright programme for ASEAN scholars, and conclude a landmark science and technology agreement, "which will promote research and development collaboration," he said.
ASEAN groups Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar (Burma).
