WASHINGTON, Aug 10, 2006 (AFP) - The United States plans to appoint special envoys to boost diplomatic and financial ties with rapidly growing Southeast Asia, an official in President George W. Bush's administration said. The move is part of Washington's bid to increase "direct engagement" with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by exploring new avenues for dialogue, cooperation and technical assistance, Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt said. "The planned appointment of an American ambassador to ASEAN is evidence of the US commitment," he said at a Singapore National Day reception in Washington on Wednesday. His remarks were released Thursday. Kimmitt said that "this year, the Treasury Department also intends to establish a post for a financial representative to Southeast Asia." The twin plan comes in the wake of the Bush administration's drive to give greater emphasis to Southeast Asia, where China has made inroads on the political, security and economic fronts in recent years. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Southeast Asian foreign ministers last month signed a five-year action plan aimed at boosting trade, investment and political ties. The appointment of a US ambassador to ASEAN was first proposed by senior Republican Senator Richard Lugar, who introduced a bill to that effect in the Senate in May. The bill has the backing of many top legislators. The United States at present has envoys at various levels in each of the 10 ASEAN member states -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. But Lugar said an ambassador to look after the region as a whole would prove crucial as ASEAN developed an integrated free-trade area and addressed matters of common concern with the United States -- ranging from environmental and financial challenges to avian influenza and terrorism. On Thursday, Lugar hailed the decision to establish the position of US Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, saying it reflected "the strong support of the United States for strengthening ties" with ASEAN. His bill recommends that a deputy assistant secretary of state serve with ambassadorial rank, subject to advice and consent of the Senate. Susan Baker, a financial expert with years of Southeast Asian experience, would be the first financial representative to ASEAN, Kimmitt said. Before joining the Treasury, Baker worked in the region as a World Bank consultant, as a financial analyst in the private sector, and with the Indonesian Ministry of Finance through a Harvard University program. ASEAN is the third largest export market for US products, and has received approximately 90 billion dollars in direct American investments. Nearly 40,000 students from Southeast Asia study in the United States. The United States remains the biggest investor in ASEAN but China's trade with the region -- now exceeding 130 billion dollars per year -- could match US volume of 136 billion dollars this year, US business officials say. pp/kd