BANGKOK - The United States is dedicated to all-round engagement and diversified presence in Asia as part of its global repositioning strategy, Kurt M. Campbell, US Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said here on Monday.

"The United States is in the process now of one of the most important transitions, that is, repositioning and rebalancing American foreign policy priorities in our history," the senior envoy said in a public speech in the Chulalongkorn University in downtown Bangkok.

"What you will see in the next few years is the United States responsibly shifting its resources and capabilities more from the Middle East and South Asia to Asia and East Asia as a whole."

The majority of the US history of the 21st century would be written in Asia as the country has come to realize that "the future is here", according to Campbell."We want a major chapter devoted to the enduring and strong American presence in Asia."

Campbell regarded the political and security alliances of the US with countries like Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines and others as the basis for its pursuits in the Asia- Pacific region and envisioned a "renaissance" of its relationships with many other Asian countries.

He said the US-China tie is among the most important and complex relationships the country has ever established and pledged that the US is going to make "remarkable" efforts to ensure a positive agenda with China in the future.

Apart from the political domain, with economy taking a downturn, the US is also looking forward to deeper engagement in Asia in the field of economy and trade. Campbell urged countries in the Asia-Pacific region to invest more in the US and purchase more US products.

He also called for the establishment of a more sustainable and dynamic institutional system which would provide new platforms for dialogues and cooperation covering a range of issues among countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, he noted that a comeback to Asia would pose an " extraordinary" challenge to the US, as it is now still deeply involved in the restive Middle East and as the "Come home" call among Americans never fades away and recently flares up, urging the government to concentrate more on domestic issues, instead of overseas endeavors.

Campbell is currently on a six-day Asia tour and after the Thailand leg, he will head to Beijing to meet with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai.