WASHINGTON (TIP): US wants to hasten emergence of an Asia-Pacific order that delivers prosperity for all the nations involved, US Vice President Joe Biden has said. “For the past 60 years, the security we provided has enabled the region’s people to turn their talents and hard work into an economic miracle,” Biden said. “Now we want to hasten the emergence of an Asian- Pacific order that delivers security and prosperity for all the nations involved,” he said.

“In short, we want to help lead in creating the 21st century rules of the road that will benefit not only the United States and the region but the world as a whole,” he said. The lifeblood of the region is economic development, but growth has slowed in India, China, in many places in Asia, and each country faces distinct and different challenge, he said.

“To spark new growth, there has to be fewer barriers at and behind our borders, protections for intellectual property to reward innovation, new commitments to make sure everyone plays by the same rules because that’s what attracts investment and jobs,” he added. Biden said economically and strategically, it’s clear why the United States had to rebalance, to direct more resources and attention toward the Asia-Pacific region.

“Because imagine what could happen if growing Asia- Pacific middle classes help lift the global economy even more than they already are, if nations reject the temptations of zero-sum thinking and rise peacefully together,” he said. The Vice President said the American rebalance towards Asia Pacific was not at the expense of its European allies. “Europe remains the cornerstone of our engagement with the rest of the world. That is a fact. We’re not going anywhere,” Biden said, adding that the US was absolutely convinced that its engagement in the Pacific was in selfinterest of Europe.