Tag: U.S. Department of State

Remarks at the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council Annual Gala

Posted by | Jun 17, 2015 | , , , , |

Press Release – U.S. Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken Deputy Secretary of State Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC June 15, 2015Remarks at the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council Annual Gala Remarks Antony J. Blinken Deputy Secretary of State Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC June 15, 2015 ________________________________________ DEPUTY SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, thank you all very, very much, and good evening. Yancy, thank you for a very generous introduction and for all the extraordinary work you do, including your support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which we’ll come to in a little while, and for your work with governments around the world to advance the interests of our businesses. You mentioned the plight of the speechwriter, and it is something I’m very, very sympathetic to. And I have an extraordinary woman who is working with me, but it reminded me of a time in the 1990s when I was working for President Clinton, and he had just delivered a very successful State of the Union address. And we were back at the White House, gathering for a party. And I was there with his top domestic policy speechwriter, Michael Waldman, and the two of us were happily soaking in the very positive vibrations for the evening; the speech had gone down well. And the president came by and introduced us to a couple of prominent people whose names I won’t mention,...

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United States – New Zealand Strategic Dialogue

Posted by | Jun 6, 2015 | , , , |

Press Release – U.S. Department of State United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Mr. Daniel Russel and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary Mr. Brook Barrington met in Washington on May 29, 2015 to co-chair the fifth United States New Zealand …United States – New Zealand Strategic Dialogue Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC June 3, 2015 United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Mr. Daniel Russel and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary Mr. Brook Barrington met in Washington on May 29, 2015 to co-chair the fifth United States – New Zealand Strategic Dialogue. Drawing on the close partnership and excellent bilateral relations between the United States and New Zealand, the co-chairs reviewed the breadth of cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global matters of mutual concern, including maritime security, the coalition to counter ISIL, efforts to counter violent extremism globally, and matters before the United Nations Security Council. The co-chairs attended a lunch hosted by Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Ms. Catherine Novelli, where they discussed the ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that will open markets, establish high standards for trade and investment throughout the region, and knit the countries of the region more closely together in commerce and prosperity – longstanding shared goals of the...

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Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day

Posted by | Apr 25, 2015 | , , , |

Press Release – U.S. Department of State On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States of America, it is my pleasure to extend our warmest regards, this April 25th, to the people of Australia and New Zealand on this very special ANZAC Day.Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC April 23, 2015 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States of America, it is my pleasure to extend our warmest regards, this April 25th, to the people of Australia and New Zealand on this very special ANZAC Day. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Allied forces landing on the Gallipoli peninsula. The countless acts of bravery and heroism, demonstrated over ten months of battle on shores thousands of miles away, ultimately gave rise to a new national consciousness in Australia and New Zealand. This ANZAC spirit, one defined by endurance, courage, and ‘mateship,’ still lives on in a shared commitment to individual rights and the rule of law, open and fair economic systems, and democratic freedoms. The United States is proud of our enduring cooperation with Australia and New Zealand in pursuit of these common ideals. We continue to work together on a wide range of issues, such as providing disaster relief and supporting good governance in the Pacific; promoting...

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The importance of a free and open Internet

Posted by | Apr 9, 2015 | , , |

Press Release – U.S. Department of State Remarks Charles H. Rivkin Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Japan Association of the New Economy (JANE), New Economy Summit Tokyo, Japan April 7, 2015The importance of a free and open Internet Remarks Charles H. Rivkin Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Japan Association of the New Economy (JANE), New Economy Summit Tokyo, Japan April 7, 2015 ________________________________________ Remarks as prepared Good morning and my special greetings to everyone here at the New Economy Summit in this remarkable and bustling city. The title of this conference, “The New Economy,” highlights a timely point for me about the Internet. It isn’t just an essential component of the new economy. It really is the economy. As early as 2011, the global digital economy’s impact on GDP growth in G7 countries had already surpassed the energy and agriculture sectors. It is rapidly transforming the emerging markets that are the key to future growth and globally shared prosperity. More and more, everything we do in the economic, commercial and financial realms is either leveraged by, or dependent upon the Internet. In fact, the Internet has become one of the greatest and most important change agents of our lives. Three billion people are connected to the Internet today. Some estimate that number will rise to five billion by 2020. More than two-thirds of...

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U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities in 2015 and Beyond

Posted by | Apr 3, 2015 | , , , , , , , |

Press Release – U.S. Department of State Remarks Puneet Talwar Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs The Commonwealth Club San Francisco, CA April 1, 2015U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities in 2015 and Beyond Remarks Puneet Talwar Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs The Commonwealth Club San Francisco, CA April 1, 2015 ________________________________________ Thank you very much, General Myatt, for that very kind introduction. And thanks also to Philip Yun who will moderate the question-and-answer session. I’d like to thank all of you for taking the time to come out tonight – business and nonprofit leaders; professors, and students under the false impression there’d be free food. Let me especially thank the Marines Memorial Association and the Commonwealth Club for hosting me here this evening. Both are esteemed organizations that do a tremendous public service for this city and this country, by elevating the discourse we have on important public policy issues. And after my remarks, I’m very much looking forward to engaging in a conversation with all of you, and doing my best to answer any questions you may have. When I heard this was a sold out event, I told my two sons I had finally joined a pantheon of greats – Santana, the Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones – all who sold out venues in San Francisco. They were not impressed. But like the Grateful Dead, tonight I...

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