Secretary Powell Trip to Cambodia, Bangladesh and Jordan

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell will depart June 16 for travel to Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Jordan, returning on June 23.
 
He will attend meetings in Phnom Penh, Cambodia organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- the ASEAN Regional Forum on June 18 and the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference on June 19 - for discussions on regional security issues and other international political and economic matters.
 
The Secretary will visit Bangladesh on June 19 for meetings with the Prime Minister and other senior officials. The United States values Bangladesh highly as a voice of moderation in the Muslim world. It has been a steadfast partner in the war on terrorism and has made solid progress in building democratic institutions, especially the holding of free and fair elections.
 
President Bush has asked the Secretary and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick to attend the World Economic Forum in Jordan, to discuss the newly announced Middle East Free Trade Area and the Middle East Partnership Initiative. Secretary Powell will also participate in smaller meetings with regional economic and foreign policy leaders to explore U.S. support for their efforts to expand economic, political, and educational opportunity across the Middle East. 
 
While in Jordan, Secretary Powell will meet with the principals of the Middle East Quartet on June 22. The Quartet principals will review the results of the Red Sea Summit meetings in Sharm el-Sheikh and Aqaba, and how best to assist Israeli and Palestinian efforts to end terror and violence and make progress toward President Bush's vision of two states-Israel and Palestine-living side by side in peace and security.