Web Users to Learn More about ASEAN-US Relations

A “simple, readable, yet impressive” website and brochure showing key quantitative and qualitative data on ASEAN’s importance to the United States and the United States’ importance to ASEAN are now available online and on print.

The user-friendly and visually-appealing interactive website www.aseanmattersforamerica.org and its complementary brochure are part of the “ASEAN Matters for America / America Matters for ASEAN” project, a joint collaboration between the East-West Center in Washington and the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS). The project explores the important connections between the ten Member States of ASEAN and the US and presents the underlying opportunities for both sides in enhancing their engagement.

The project was introduced today at the ASEAN Secretariat by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, and the Director of the East-West Center in Washington, Dr Satu P. Limaye, to the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), the representatives of ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, the media and the staff of the Secretariat.

“Evidently, there is willingness by the US to re-engage ASEAN, which serves as a solid foundation of cooperation between us,” said Dr Surin in his welcome remarks. “I hope this renewed engagement will attest to every subsequent administration.”

“This project is another sign of such interest,” Dr Surin added, “and I am pleased to note that the project is one that can directly benefit and reach the grass-roots level – the people. They will, after all, be the new players, the ones keeping the ASEAN-US relations warm and strong.”

Speaking on the project, Dr Limaye said, “We want this to be breathing, living effort that continuously grabs the attention of the people.” He added that the project has been familiarised to the government officers, business community and students across the US. It has also reached audiences in ASEAN Member States.

Meanwhile, Josh M. Cartin, Resident Representative of the Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, said that the project is “a valuable contribution to the expanding ASEAN-US conversation. It backs up with hard statistics an assumption we know instinctively, which is that there is a great confluence of interests between the US and the countries of Southeast Asia.” He also said, “I hope our peoples look at the project, learn from it and contribute their own ideas to its expansion.”

The project was previously launched in April in Washington and in Singapore, home of ISEAS. It will also be introduced to the ASEAN Ambassadors in the US on 22 June. A parent initiative called “Asia Matters for America” is also available online and in hardcopy.