PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHEAST ASIA
Ms Harris urged nations throughout the Indo-Pacific to join the US in this effort, saying that she hopes the region will look back at this moment years from now and realise they joined together to “improve the lives of all people”.
“I hope that we will be able to point to our partnerships between the United States and Singapore, between the United States and Southeast Asia, and throughout the Indo-Pacific, as the partnerships that made this shared vision of the future possible,” she added.
Ms Harris said she believes the growth of the US economy can benefit its partners, especially as its economy “shares so much” with Southeast Asia, from supply chains to a steady flow of two-way trade.
“Collectively, the nations of Southeast Asia, represent our nation’s fourth-largest export market. A vibrant and dynamic market, which will soon rank among the biggest markets in the world,” she said.
“Our trade relationships in Southeast Asia support more than 600,000 American jobs.”
Ms Harris said much of the history of the 21st century will be written in the Indo-Pacific, and that the US will pursue a “free and open” Indo-Pacific that promotes US interests as well as those of its partners and allies.
“Our intention is to strengthen our partnerships and reinforce our shared vision, so that the United States, with our partners, can together continue shaping that history,” she said.
“In doing so, there should be no doubt: We have enduring interests in this region, and we have enduring commitments as well.”
She said the US will also work multilaterally through long-standing institutions like the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN), “which remains central to this region’s architecture”.
“Our partnerships will be grounded in candour, openness, inclusiveness, shared interests and mutual benefits,” she added.
She highlighted how the US economy shares much with Southeast Asia, including supply chains and two-way trade.
“Collectively, the nations of Southeast Asia represent our nation’s fourth-largest export market – a vibrant and dynamic market which will soon rank among the biggest markets in the world,” she said, noting that trade relationships in Southeast Asia support more than 600,000 American jobs.
Ms Harris also said that “with an eye toward the future”, the US is strengthening its economic engagement, and announced that the country is offering to host APEC in 2023.
“Through APEC, or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, the United States has long worked with our partners in Asia and Latin America to build an interconnected region that advances our collective economic prosperity.”