U/S JEFFERY DISCUSSES BURMA, ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, AT ASEAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002739 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT PASS USTR FOR KATZ AND BROOKS DEPT FOR EAP/RSP and EAP/MTS DEPT FOR EB/IFD/OMA DEPT ALSO FOR OES/IET AND OES/ETC/TED TREASURY FOR IA-SETH SEARLS COMMERCE FOR 4430/GOLIKE E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD PHUM PREL PGOV SENV KDEM ID SUBJECT: U/S JEFFERY DISCUSSES BURMA, ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, AT ASEAN ¶1. (SBU) Summary. ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Nicholas Tandi Dammen provided Under Secretary Jeffery with a brief overview of ASEAN's draft blueprint for economic integration and expressed appreciation for the United States' robust cooperation with ASEAN on trade and economic issues, particularly in the area of capacity building. U/S Jeffery noted the important role that ASEAN plays in the region and underscored the United States' support for ASEAN's plans for economic integration. He also confirmed that President Bush had extended an invitation to the leaders of ASEAN to visit Texas for a Commemorative Summit during the end of 2007 or early ¶2008. Responding to a question about ASEAN's influence on Burma, ASEAN Secretariat Staff replied that ASEAN would have limited leverage over the Burmese government as long as India and China provide strong support for Burma's economy. End Summary. ASEAN Secretariat Staff Outline Plans for Integration -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) ASEAN Deputy Secretary General for Economic Affairs Nicholas Tandi Dammen and his staff provided U/S Jeffery with a brief overview of ASEAN's draft blueprint for economic integration. ASEAN staff noted that the key thrust of the blueprint is to build a single ASEAN market and production base by 2015. In an effort to achieve that goal, the blueprint also focuses on enhancing competitiveness in the region, providing equitable economic growth, and increasing economic integration with the rest of the world. ¶3. (SBU) ASEAN is currently in the early stages of enhancing competition policies at the national level, while its blueprint for achieving equitable economic growth centers on increasing development in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Burma, as well as sub-ASEAN regions where high levels of poverty persist. ASEAN staff highlighted their efforts to complete free trade agreements (FTAs) with important trading partners. ASEAN has engaged in FTA negotiations with a large number of countries, including China and Korea, with which ASEAN has concluded agreements; Japan, Australia and New Zealand, with which ASEAN will complete agreements in the next year or two; and the European Union, with which ASEAN will begin negotiations in the near term. ¶4. (SBU) ASEAN Secretariat staff also expressed appreciation for the United States' robust cooperation with ASEAN on trade and economic issues, particularly in the area of capacity building. Secretariat staff specifically noted that the U.S. has provided strong assistance for the ASEAN "single window" initiative and ASEAN's effort to improve member countries' ability to protect intellectual property rights (IPR). ASEAN Secretariat staff noted that while ASEAN member country views on the importance of IPR issues were not uniform, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's technical assistance in this area has helped narrow the gap in viewpoints within ASEAN. U/S Jeffery Confirms Summit Invitation, Talks Burma -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) U/S Jeffery noted that the important role that ASEAN plays in the region and underscored U.S. support for ASEAN's plans for economic integration. He also confirmed that President Bush had extended an invitation to the leaders of ASEAN to visit Texas for a Commemorative Summit during the end of 2007 or early 2008. He noted that the U.S. would invite Burma, as a member of ASEAN, but that the organizers would determine the level of Burmese representation to the Summit after ASEAN and the U.S. decide on a date. ¶6. (SBU) U/S Jeffery also asked Deputy Secretary General Dammen his views on engaging Burma. ASEAN Secretariat staff replied that ASEAN would have limited leverage over the Burmese government as long as India and China provide strong support for Burma's economy. As long as India and China provide economic support for Burma, economic sanctions are unlikely to have a significant impact. Instead, ASEAN questioned whether a more positive approach, such as significantly increasing economic cooperation with Burma, would be more a more effective mechanism to gain influence and effect change in Rangoon. JAKARTA 00002739 002 OF 002 ASEAN wants China and India to play a more proactive role in limiting human rights abuses in Burma. ¶7. (U) U/S Jeffery cleared this cable. HUME