Washington to remain focused on Asia-Pacific_美文

Washington to remain focused on Asia-Pacific

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A constructive US-China relationship is crucial to stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region as the United States will continue to focus on its relationship with countries in this region, analysts said on Sunday.

The US is increasingly an Asia-Pacific nation, said diplomat James F. Moriarty - a former senior director at the US National Security Council and one-time ambassador to Bangladesh and Nepal - at a panel discussion focused on US-Asia policy.

His remarks came on the second day of the three-day East-West Center's 15th biennial international alumni conference in Beijing.

Even after the US presidential election in November, when new people will take over key posts, including Secretary of State, US interests in the Asia-Pacific region won't change, Moriarty said. "They will come to the similar conclusion that the Asia-Pacific is more and more important," he said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she will step down at the end of President Barack Obama's four-year term, even if Obama is re-elected.

US trade in the Asia-Pacific region was more than $320 billion in 2011, and two-thirds of foreign students in the US are from Asia.

The Asia-Pacific has become the largest source of immigrants to the US.

According to Reuters, Clinton said at the Pacific Islands Forum on Friday that the US will reinforce security partnerships across the Pacific as it strengthens ties with island nations, and also hopes to work more closely with China as Beijing expands its own influence in the region.