On Hillary Clinton's Agenda in Malaysia

First Secretary of State bilateral visit since Warren Christopher in 1995? Shameful!

Secretary Clinton's Meeting in Malaysia Expand Strategic Cooperation

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

November 1, 2010

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Secretary Clinton’s meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 1-2 reflect the importance of our comprehensive engagement with Southeast Asia and ASEAN. U.S. - Malaysia relations are at a highpoint and hold great promise for expanded cooperation in critical areas such as increased trade and investment, cooperation in science and education, non-proliferation, and support for the people of Afghanistan.
The United States and Malaysia have taken significant steps in the past year to improve the bilateral trade and security relationship. The Najib Government deployed a 40-person military medical mission to Afghanistan, passed a comprehensive export control law to address the transshipment of proliferation-related items through Malaysia, and participated in negotiations last month in Brunei on the Trans-Pacific Partnership– a high-standard, 21^st century trade agreement. Greater U.S. economic engagement in Malaysia and across Asia – and especially increased U.S. exports – helps create high-quality jobs for American workers, and also for workers in Malaysia. U.S. exports to Malaysia totaled $15.2 billion in 2009.

• Building Cooperation with Southeast Asia. Secretary Clinton is strengthening partnerships with the nations of Southeast Asia and reaffirming a commitment to a comprehensive regional architecture. Malaysia plays an increasingly important role in regional multilateral organizations.

• Strengthening the U.S.-Malaysia Relationship. As the first Secretary of State bilateral visit since former Secretary Christopher’s visit in 1995, Secretary Clinton’s meetings with Malaysian senior officials mark a significant warming of relations and new cooperation on strategic issues – such as trade, science, education, Afghanistan, and non-proliferation.

• Creating U.S. Jobs and Spreading Prosperity in the United States and Malaysia. President Obama launched the National Export Initiative with the goal of doubling U.S. exports over five years, thus supporting two million American jobs. At Subang Airport, Secretary Clinton will recognize the contributions of American workers from U.S. companies, Pratt & Whitney, GE, and Boeing, to build the fleet of Malaysian Airlines. Pratt and Whitney reports that the engine order recognized today will support 18,733 jobs in the United States, as well as additional jobs at 25 suppliers in more than 20 states that support the PW4170 engine program. The sale also provides new economic opportunities in Malaysia and provides the airline with some of the world’s finest technologies.

• Engaging the People of Malaysia: Science and Technology. Secretary Clinton and Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Datuk Seri Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, will sign a Science and Technology Agreement that provides a framework to facilitate the kind of scientific successful collaboration and innovation that is critical to energize knowledge-based economic growth and help provide solutions to the global challenges the United States and Malaysia face today, including food security, global climate change, biodiversity conservation, and developing clean and renewable sources of energy.

• Engaging the Youth of Malaysia: Bilateral Educational Cooperation. Our two countries agree on the importance of strengthening and deepening bilateral educational cooperation and enhancing English teaching to further increase mutual understanding between the people of Malaysia and the people of the United States of America. The two governments recognize the valuable contribution of the binational Fulbright Program to this effort.

• Improving the Health of Americans and Malaysians: Education and Science Cooperation. Secretary Clinton will witness Johns Hopkins University Medical School and Malaysian Academic Medical Center signing a joint-venture agreement to establish a 600-bed private hospital and four-year medical school following the Hopkins curriculum. The new medical school will include nursing, public health, and research programs.