U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen will be addressing leading corporate executives, heads of government, and governmental ministers from throughout the Asia-Pacific on May 25th in Santiago, Chile, at the 31st International General Meeting (IGM) of the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC).

President Clinton has praised Cohen - a former senator, lawyer, poet, and author - for his "creative, independent, inquiring mind". Most recently, during the ongoing Asian financial crisis, Secretary Cohen has earned widespread praise for his travels throughout the region, and his discussions with Chinese officials on currency issues.

Secretary Cohen, who has over two decades of experience in national security issues, earned a law degree at Boston University, and served as mayor of Bangor, Maine in the early 1970s, before being elected to the U.S. Congress. Cohen devoted much of his 20 years in the U.S. Senate to working on defense issues, from the reorganization of the Pentagon to the modernization of the Navy. He has written nine books, teaming with former Senate colleague Gary Hart on a novel about international espionage, with former Senate Democratic leader George Mitchell on an account of the Iran-Contra affair and with Thomas B. Allen on a murder mystery.

Secretary Cohen will be speaking on "Peace and Stability: The Cornerstone of Prosperity". Secretary Cohen will be sharing his thoughts on how we can maintain the peace and stability which is so critical to generate and sustain prosperity throughout the Asia-Pacific and the world. Recent events demonstrate just how topical and timely these remarks will be. PBEC’s International General Meeting is an opportunity for the region’s foremost corporate executives to gather with other international leaders, to discuss, in a frank and intimate setting, the key issues in the regional economy, and to publicly issue policy recommendations and statements.

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