MFA Press Statement: ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo and the other ASEAN Foreign Ministers met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice this afternoon at the sidelines of the 62nd United Nations General Assembly.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers welcomed the meeting as a timely opportunity to review ASEAN-US ties with Secretary Rice. They discussed ways to further broaden and deepen cooperation, noting that this was the thirtieth year of dialogue partnership between ASEAN and the US. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers welcomed US President George W Bush's invitation to the ASEAN leaders to go to Crawford, Texas, next year for the ASEAN-US Commemorative Summit. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers also welcomed the decision to appoint a US Ambassador to ASEAN, particularly as the US will be the first ASEAN dialogue partner to do so.

During the meeting, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Secretary Rice had an exchange of views on international and regional developments, including the situation in Myanmar. Secretary Rice associated herself with the ASEAN statement on Myanmar which was issued earlier today.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
28 SEPTEMBER