New US House foreign affairs chief vows to "listen" to Asia

New US House foreign affairs chief vows to "listen" to Asia

by P. Parameswaran 20 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The incoming head of the US House of Representatives' top foreign affairs panel has vowed to pursue a "more diplomatic, respectful and listening posture" with Asia in a bid to enhance ties with the region.


But lawmaker Tom Lantos of the Democratic party, which wrests control of Congress from President George W. Bush's Republicans in January, said he would not waver in upholding human rights in the region, where China,
North Korea and Myanmar notably have come under the spotlight for alleged abuses.

Lantos, who takes over from retiring Republican Henry Hyde as chairman of the House international relations committee, said he planned to make his third visit to North Korea in the first half of 2007 as part of a bid to emphasize to the Bush administration that direct talks was essential to woo the reclusive state to abandon its nuclear weapons drive.

The United States, which has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, only talks to North Korea within the context of the China-hosted multilateral dialogue aimed at disbanding Pyongyang's atomic program.......

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061221/pl_afp/uscongressasia_061221170102