SINGAPORE, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The United States (U.S.) is trying to engage more in Asia, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said at a public lecture here Friday.

    The significance of Asia in the global arena is growing not only in terms of economic development but also in areas like the consumption of energy and other materials, according to Armitage, president of the Armitage International, a business consulting firm.

    Noting that what is going on in this region is unprecedented, Armitage expressed his confidence in the assertion that the 21st century is the century of Asia.

    He added that the U.S. enjoys the fastest growing economic relationship with Asia and wants to be more engaged in the region.

    As for China, Armitage said that it has achieved 26 straight years of economic growth and is ascending to the world stage, but he cautioned that difficulties such as slowdown of the global economic growth might have negative impact on China's development.

    Entitled "the United States, Asia and a Rapidly Changing World," Armitage's speech also dealt with the certainties and uncertainties in the world's development, and the relationship between the U.S. and several Asian nations.

    The lecture was organized by Singapore's Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies. Enditem