ASEAN had not been raised in his speech State of the Union Obama

The US president is optimistic, but Americans can have reason to stop thinking for a minute. Shooting in December in San Bernardino, California, a few weeks ago was considered the worst terrorist attacks which occurred on the territory of the United States since September 11, 2001 and in the latest Rasmussen Reports showed that 67 percent of Americans now say their country is heading toward wrong direction.

But the US president declared: 'I stand here with confidence that our United States strong and compared to the US economy are still strong.

Unfortunately, due to geographical and lessons have not been raised in the address. Americans could benefit from Barack Obama to outline how to strengthen trade and security relations with Asian countries Southeast US that will help address the challenges of its economic and security how?

In a speech to the US Congress, Obama said that Asia, especially China, as past speeches. But while Myanmar and the Philippines, said in a speech before Southeast Asia have not been raised in recent speeches President's.

The president should be shouted from the region, and as a child, the president lived in Indonesia as the most populous country in and in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

Obama actually said from Vietnam in his last speech, but raised in order to remind Americans wartime legacy of America's tough in that country. He looked past of Southeast Asia is the future of this region.

How many people in the United States, which both surprised that now, Vietnam has been an enemy of the US is becoming a major trading partner of the US and efforts to make closer ties between the United States, while China demanding rights in the South China sea. Not many people know that Thailand's oldest ally of the US in Asia treaty of friendship and cooperation, signed in 1833, and Singapore remains a strong security partner of the United States.

US citizens may benefit after learned that Obama had invited Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and leaders of 9 others in Southeast Asia to attend the ASEAN Summit in California in February, soon.

Americans also will benefit, too, after learning from a strategic partnership with the new US in this area, which could lead to cooperation on economic and security issues further.

According to the Business Council, US-ASEAN investment in the ten ASEAN countries more than in the BRIC countries, Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The United States may try to create a new system of international security to ensure greater economic and military. The new system must involve and include the Southeast Asian country, Barack Obama declared that important to the security, prosperity, dignity around the world in November in the US ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Mutual benefits and opportunities of partnership between the United States and Southeast Asia will be visibly more and more apparent to persons and future business as the ASEAN economic community, which recently began implementing strong. The market of approximately 600 million people and a gross domestic product of more than $ 2.5 trillion dollars cited in speeches by US President.

The president turned citing trade talks of partnership across the Pacific, which has just completed a an example of the leadership of the US in Asia. Business initiatives that, if implemented would generate exports of the United States 9.2 percent, according to the World Bank. However, it does not include all members in Southeast Asia as a whole.

To call upon the Congress to approve this important trade agreement, Obama said: 'With the partnership across the Pacific China does not set the rules in the area, but we are determined. You want to show our strength in this new century? Please approve this agreement.

The final speech of the president of the United States showed a cautious approach to Asia, while China is recovering. Most regions including Southeast Asia, wants to lead America's strong return.

Our hope is that a new president, whether male or female, but would confirm that the United States remains the largest economy and Pacific military as a force for democracy, human rights and good governance.

21st century can be the century of Asia Pacific. But the speech of US President Barack Obama is showing that the United States is still a superpower and Asia Pacific with attention, investment and participation in the United States to improve the Southeast Asian region and the world. That's the tale they told. TK

Curtis S Chin, a former US Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank is currently managing director of RM Council RiverPeak, LLC. Jose Collazo, Southeast Asia analyst is colleagues at RiverPeak Group. Follow them on Twitter and addressCurtisSChinJoseBCollazo.

Curtis S. Chin and Jose B. Collazo