U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel, right, and U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Carol A. Rodley meet with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, unseen, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Cambodia asked the United States on Tuesday to cancel US$339 million in debt that dates back to loans from the 1970s, or consider converting most of it into development aid for the impoverished country.
(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)Source: Xinhua
February 09, 2010
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of States Scot Marciel said here on Tuesday that "Chinese rapid development has led to increased engagement in the region"and certainly to increase its influence.
"That is normal reality. It's perfectly normal for these countries of the region who want to have good relations with the larger partner (China), the major trading partner,"said Scot Marciel.
"We have certainly no problem with that,"Marciel said in a news conference after meeting with Cambodian government leaders.
Analysts here said that the establishment of the China-ASEAN free trade area (FTA) conducted on January 1, 2010, under which most goods traded between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) attach zero or little tariff, will promote the development of trade and economic cooperation of the region and benefit greatly countries and peoples.
The world's largest free-trade area (FTA) came into force since January 1, 2010, an initiative that gives a shot in the arm for global trade troubled by rising protectionism.
"Our goal for Southeast Asia remains the same. We would like to see Southeast Asia to achieve a goal that has been set out for itself, actually in the ASEAN blue print, which is more integration, political stability... and certainly economic prosperities and we continue to support that,"he said after his two-day visit Cambodia from Monday to Tuesday.
He visited Laos and Vietnam and due to leave for Thailand Tuesday night before heading to Indonesia where he will do some works in preparation for the U.S. President Barack Obama's visit next month.
"That is normal reality. It's perfectly normal for these countries of the region who want to have good relations with the larger partner (China), the major trading partner,"said Scot Marciel.
"We have certainly no problem with that,"Marciel said in a news conference after meeting with Cambodian government leaders.
Analysts here said that the establishment of the China-ASEAN free trade area (FTA) conducted on January 1, 2010, under which most goods traded between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) attach zero or little tariff, will promote the development of trade and economic cooperation of the region and benefit greatly countries and peoples.
The world's largest free-trade area (FTA) came into force since January 1, 2010, an initiative that gives a shot in the arm for global trade troubled by rising protectionism.
"Our goal for Southeast Asia remains the same. We would like to see Southeast Asia to achieve a goal that has been set out for itself, actually in the ASEAN blue print, which is more integration, political stability... and certainly economic prosperities and we continue to support that,"he said after his two-day visit Cambodia from Monday to Tuesday.
He visited Laos and Vietnam and due to leave for Thailand Tuesday night before heading to Indonesia where he will do some works in preparation for the U.S. President Barack Obama's visit next month.
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