U.S. encourages SAARC but hesitant to get more involved
Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The United States encouraged the participating nations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, also known as SAARC, but Washington had no intentions to increase its own involvement with the association according to one of the top U.S. diplomats.
Addressing journalists at a special briefing at the State Department, Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said, “We’re an observer country and we welcome that role, but we’re not seeking to enhance our role in any way.”
Assistant Secretary Blake returned from a trip to the Maldives as head of the U.S. observer delegation to the 17th Summit of the SAARC which has eight member nations and nine observers.
The U.S., however, urged the participating South Asian nations to not only cement ties among themselves but also to enlarge cooperation with Central Asian countries to accelerate the building of a New Silk Road.
Assistant Secretary Blake said, “I explained our support for greater regional integration not only within South Asia, but between South and Central Asia and Secretary Clinton’s vision of a New Silk Road linking the economies of South and Central Asia in a web of trade, transit, and energy connections.”
“The SAARC states hope to implement a South Asia free trade agreement by 2016, and there was some progress that was announced during the recent summit,” said Blake, lamenting the fact that the SAARC members were “not ready to endorse proposals to move up the date for SAFTA implementation.”
The SAARC leaders agreed “to finalize a regional railways agreement in the next year and to create an Indian Ocean cargo and ferry service by 2012,” said Assistant Secretary Blake.
The U.S. has enjoyed observer nation status since 2007 in SAARC, which groups Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
View full post on Trade Agreements Stories
Related posts:
- U.S. signs antitrust cooperation agreement with Chile
- U.S. signs antitrust cooperation agreement with Chile
- World Bank: slow growth in developed nations, rapid growth in developing nations
- Nepal Doing Well During Economic Slowdown
- Indian Minister Projects 9 Percent Growth, Open Doors For Investors
Comments
Leave a Reply
Day Trading- Eurozone service sector shrinks, raising recession fears
- Automated Forex Trading with the Best Software can Produce Huge Returns if Perfected
- U.S. markets quiet as investors worry about Greece
- Odyssey Marine Exploration has to give shipwreck treasure back to Spain
- Odyssey Marine Exploration has to give shipwreck treasure back to Spain
- Fuji recalls women’s cruiser bicycles over fall hazard
- Get fully automated day trading system
- Wal-Mart reports more sales but lower Q4 profits
- SEC Warns Top Banker of Charges Over Magnetar Deal
- Taco Bell to launch new Dorito shells
- Forex
- Getting Started In Forex – The Proven Best Strategy For Getting Started In Forex
- Forex Secrets – Delusion Number 2 – Who Prompts Forex Quotation to Traders?
- Summary Box: Stocks fall as dollar jumps
- Ava Forex Broker-Providing An Apparent Platform To Trade For Both Traders And Investors
- Forex Trading Strategies – How to Be a Super Successful Forex Trader! AAA+++
- Fed stands pat on interest rates and bond purchases
- Managed Foreign Exchange – Tips And Tricks to Manage Your Forex Account
- Car sales in Philippines jump 29 percent
- Suicide Won’t End Madoff Suits
- What to Look for in Opening a Free Forex Account
-
- Investors
- Comparison Shopping for Personal Loans
- Comparison Shopping for Personal Loans
- Bank of America repurchases $2.5 billion debt from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac in settlement
- Bank of America repurchases $2.5 billion debt from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac in settlement
- Illinois Firm Recalls Raw and Ready-To-Eat Sausage Products Due To Possible Adulteration
- DeLisha Milton-Jones shines as Sparks topple Liberty in historic rematch
- June 20, 2011: Braves 2* vs. Blue Jays 0 (MLB)
- Debt Consolidation – Savior in Debt Crisis
- Government Check List for Starting a Business
- Rohingyas in Malaysia seek education, opportunities
- Eco friendly Business
- Stella McCartney’s sunglasses are eco-friendly
- Climate-vulnerable countries to seek help from rich nations
- Bangladesh, India vulnerable to climate change
- Disease concerns as flash floods hit Kenyan coastal area
- Nalgae leaves 18 dead in the Philippines
- Rising sea level could wipe out California’s billion-dollar beaches
- Two million hit by floods in Sindh Province
- Drought – the view from the ground
- British Columbia sends more firefighters to Ontario
- Long and intense drought hurting 14 states
