LANGKAWI, April 27 — The United States supports wholeheartedly the vision of the Asean Community, that is poised to become a reality by end of the year, said US Ambassador to Asean Nina Hachigian.

From a strategic and economic perspective, she said a prosperous, strong, integrated and unified Asean is good for the people of Southeast Asia, and also for the United States.

In describing US-Asean relationship, Hachigian said Asean is very important to the United States, as the 10 member bloc is a cornerstone of the US rebalance to Asia.

“Asean is an important force for regional peace and prosperity and together the US and Asean are tackling shared challenges like climate change, foreign terrorist fighters, human trafficking and ocean degradation,” she told Bernama in an email interview here today.

Hachigian is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Besides, Hachigian added, the powerful group of 10 Southeast Asian countries and America’s economic futures are intertwined as both are among each other’s largest trading partners.

“We have strong and numerous people-to-people ties. Millions of Americans visit Southeast Asia each year and tens of thousands of Southeast Asian students study in American universities,” she noted.

Citing an example, Hachigian even quoted the US President Barack Obama saying, “A strong relationship between the United States and Asean is essential to realising our shared vision for the future of the Asia Pacific….”

On US hopes of Malaysia’s leadership of Asean, she said this year is a significant year for Asean as 10 member states come together as a Community, engaging politically and economically, with a focus on the people of Asean.

“We (US) have high hopes for Malaysia’s chairmanship and its theme of “Our People, Our Community, Our Vision.”

“We know that Malaysia is also leading important discussions on the post-2015 vision and priorities for the Asean Community,” she explained.

Therefore, Hachigian said US is in view that Malaysia is a respected and capable Asean chairman, in this critical year of forming the Asean Community.  “Malaysia, like all Chairs, must manage discussions among 10 diverse countries of where Asean should head post-2015. We know they (Asean countries) are deeply engaged in leading those discussions,” she said.

Asked on what ways US can assist Asean in community building, Hachigian said the Youth Southeast Asia Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), is helping young leaders to get to know their counterparts in other Asean countries and learning how much they have in common.

YSEALI, that was established by President Obama over a year ago, has over 25,000 members, and is funding small grants for projects run by members to address cross-border issues on education, environmental protection, and economic and community development.

“In fact, more than one participant has said to me, ‘I didn’t really think about Asean until I joined this workshop’,” she said.

Established in 1967, Asean comprises 10 countries, namely Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. — Bernama