Inauguration of Bakrie Chair for Southeast Asian Studies

Inauguration of Bakrie Chair for Southeast Asian Studies was held at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC, Monday (26 / 7) evening. People who attended came from the White House, Pentagon and the family of President Barrack H. Obama.

Founder and chairman of Bakrie this Chair, Anindya N Bakrie U.S. states chosen as the site for the establishment of such institutions is the most important country for South-East Asia outside China and Indonesia and India. In addition to problems of economic and trade pertumban, the U.S. also played a role in maintaining stability in the region. A fleet of war (U.S. Seventh Fleet), the U.S. stationed in Southeast Asia.

"As the sole superpower, the U.S. played a key role for the security of the Asia Pacific region. The balance of power in countries like China, Korea and Japan to give effect to the Southeast Asian country. America needs to continue its attention to issues of regional security in Southeast Asia that will great influence on the region, "said Anindya.

In its review, the Southeast Asian region can be a buffer zone of the constellation of competition between China and India. China has limited influence in the Northeast region, while India in South Asia. "We certainly hope that their competition will turn into friendships. But we can not just hope but have to do something," he asserted.

According to him, one that is of concern is the ambiguous attitude of the U.S. to Southeast Asia. For example, President Obama has several times postponed his visit to Indonesia and Australia. "All I can understand that because of domestic issues. Indonesia can not help but certainly disappointed," he said.

Bakrie Chair will play a role and contribute through research that are important in the political, economic and social culture. According to Deputy Ambassador of Indonesia in Washington, Salman Al Pharisees, the launch of an advanced Bakrie Chair can be an important breakthrough in relations between Indonesia and the U.S..

Besides Bakrie family, White House officials, Jeffrey Bader of the National Security Council, former U.S. ambassador in Indonesia, Stapleton Roy, a Pentagon official dealing with Southeast Asia Robert Scher, Senior Director, Asia Division, U.S. International Development, Chamber Murray Hiebert and Maya Soetoro, sister President Obama attended the launch event this Bakrie Chair