ambassador remarks

Conference on Asia-Pacific Security Challenges

September 7, 2008

Ambassador Richard W. Graber 

Lord Mayor Bém, Director Černý, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to be here with you tonight.  

The Asia-Pacific region may look distant on a world map, but there is no doubt the economic, political and environmental impact of the actions and policies of the countries in the region are felt immediately as far away as Central Europe.  One of the world’s most challenging, diverse and dynamic regions, Asia’s burgeoning economies are generating historic changes in both regional and global political, security, and economic relationships.  Many experts believe the 21st century will be ‘the Asian Century’ as giants China and India—which comprise a third of the world’s population—lead the region in flexing their political and economic muscle.

It was in the latter half of the last century that the spectacular economic growth of numerous Asian countries made their presence felt on the world stage.  The 1997 Asian financial crisis and its impact on these so-called “Asian Tigers” dropped the region into a downward spiral from which it took nearly a decade to fully recover.  Indeed, the Asian financial crisis’ fallout was felt throughout the world, dramatically contracting the economies of a dozen countries in Asia; causing the U.S. stock market to historically suspend trading after losing more than 550 points in one session; directly contributing to economic and political crises in Russia, Brazil and Argentina; and helping drop the price of oil to eight dollars per barrel. 

That number sounds almost unreal when one considers current oil prices.  China and India in particular demand an ever growing percentage of the world’s resources to fuel both their insatiable industrial growth—and the fleet of cars its newly prosperous citizens now drive.  Indeed, a shared world concern as the Asia-Pacific region develops is the collaborative search for technologies to minimize the environmental impact of its expanding industries—as we must also minimize our own. 

The United States has long recognized that the stability and well-being of the Asia-Pacific region was critical to the wider world.  For the past 60 years, the United States has played a vital and active role in partnering with the region to help it achieve continuing economic and developmental success.  The Asia-Pacific area is home to five United States treaty allies and an equal number of our largest trade partners—and it becomes more important every day.  We are committed to strong relations with regional institutions such as APEC and ASEAN, to the liberalization of trade and investment and to the promotion of economic and structural reforms.

The United States is committed to supporting efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law, respect for human rights and religious tolerance in the region. Within Asia, democratic governance is rapidly evolving; human rights are advancing and the roots of democracy grow ever deeper.  All of these developments are critical to improving the standard of living of the region’s inhabitants and combating the spread of terrorism. Transparent, non-corrupt, and responsive governments that attend to their people’s needs are those that foster sustained economic growth.

However, the region also includes two of the world’s most repressive and secretive regimes, Burma and North Korea.  While engaging them in dialogue, the U.S, the international community and the countries in the Asia-Pacific zone must also cooperate to ensure there is no space in which totalitarianism, repression, extremism and terrorism can flourish.

As the world’s playing field becomes increasingly level, the Asia-Pacific region’s development will be felt around the globe.  With cooperation and communication—from the United States and the Czech Republic, among others—we can help ensure that the 21st century, be it the Asian Century or not, is a century in which we work together to ensure global stability and prosperity. 

I am therefore glad that the U.S. Embassy is able to participate in this important conference.  I wish you all a fruitful and enlightening debate.  Thank you.