Anifah Aman (left), greeting Hillary Rodham Clinton. Pic: Hairul
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- The United States is co-currently endorsing Malaysia's call to promote religious moderation, says its Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is here for a three-day official visit.
"We know that extremists exist in every religion. History has proven that," she said at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman at Wisma Putra Tuesday.
"But extremism is not a cap to building sustainable prosperity peace stability and democracy. It only promotes conflict.
"We very much welcome the Prime Minister's (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) call for a Global Movement of the Moderates and we are eager to support him and other leaders who take up this call to promote the inter-faith dialogue.
"To increase understanding among the people, we need to expand the ties that connect us and we are exploring that around the world but in particular we are very good to expanding the people-to-people engagements between the US and Malaysia."
Najib had in late September called for a "Global Movement of the Moderates" aimed at rallying leaders and intellectuals of the Islamic world to come forward and state their stand openly and firmly against extremism.
The proposal was spelled out in his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
"Since Day One of the (Obama) Administration, President (Barack) Obama and I have made it a priority to re-engage with the Asia Pacific," said Clinton.
"We know that much of the history of the 21st century will be written in this region because it is a centre of so many of the world greatest opportunities and biggest challenges," she said, adding that the US was particularly enthusiastic about deepening, broading and strengthening its relationship with Malaysia.
Clinton said the US already had a strong partnership based on common values like respect of cultural diversity and religious tolerance along with "very important trade business and investment ties with Malaysia."
"We know that Malaysia is a leader in this region and as I said earlier Malaysia is increasingly being looked to as a thought leader and a model globally."
Clinton made similar remarks on Malaysia being a thought leader at a talk entitled "A conversation with Hillary Rodham Clinton" at the International Institute for Islamic Thought and Civilisation in Kuala Lumpur earlier.
Before the press conference, Clinton held a bilateral meetings with Anifah. She also met Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was standing in for Najib, who was indisposed.
Malaysia is the fifth stop of Clinton's Asia tour that had so far taken her to Guam, Vietnam, China and Cambodia. After Malaysia, she will visit Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Australia and American Samoa.
"We know that extremists exist in every religion. History has proven that," she said at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman at Wisma Putra Tuesday.
"But extremism is not a cap to building sustainable prosperity peace stability and democracy. It only promotes conflict.
"We very much welcome the Prime Minister's (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) call for a Global Movement of the Moderates and we are eager to support him and other leaders who take up this call to promote the inter-faith dialogue.
"To increase understanding among the people, we need to expand the ties that connect us and we are exploring that around the world but in particular we are very good to expanding the people-to-people engagements between the US and Malaysia."
Najib had in late September called for a "Global Movement of the Moderates" aimed at rallying leaders and intellectuals of the Islamic world to come forward and state their stand openly and firmly against extremism.
The proposal was spelled out in his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
"Since Day One of the (Obama) Administration, President (Barack) Obama and I have made it a priority to re-engage with the Asia Pacific," said Clinton.
"We know that much of the history of the 21st century will be written in this region because it is a centre of so many of the world greatest opportunities and biggest challenges," she said, adding that the US was particularly enthusiastic about deepening, broading and strengthening its relationship with Malaysia.
Clinton said the US already had a strong partnership based on common values like respect of cultural diversity and religious tolerance along with "very important trade business and investment ties with Malaysia."
"We know that Malaysia is a leader in this region and as I said earlier Malaysia is increasingly being looked to as a thought leader and a model globally."
Clinton made similar remarks on Malaysia being a thought leader at a talk entitled "A conversation with Hillary Rodham Clinton" at the International Institute for Islamic Thought and Civilisation in Kuala Lumpur earlier.
Before the press conference, Clinton held a bilateral meetings with Anifah. She also met Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was standing in for Najib, who was indisposed.
Malaysia is the fifth stop of Clinton's Asia tour that had so far taken her to Guam, Vietnam, China and Cambodia. After Malaysia, she will visit Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Australia and American Samoa.
No comments:
Post a Comment