US urges Philippines to lead ASEAN cooperation

A senior US diplomat has urged the countries of Southeast Asia to cooperate more closely in the areas of security and disaster-relief.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill said militaries in the region should work more closely together to assist more people more quickly after disasters.

Mr Hill visited the Philippine Military Academy in the northeastern city of Baguio over the weekend.

He said the Philippines should take the lead in forging multilateral agreements for such cooperation between the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Mr Hill said such multilateral accords could be "a means by which a greater sense of community can be gained because militaries will begin to work more closely".

He said cooperation could extend to other security threats including drug trafficking, human trafficking and international terrorism.

ASEAN includes the Philippines Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA