As I said in Tokyo yesterday, the United States is a Pacific nation, and we enjoy deep historical ties to Southeast Asia -- one of the most important and dynamic regions of the world.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Speak After ASEAN-10 Meeting | The White House

How these regions came to be such dynamic business incubators has been the subject of several books and countless articles.

FORBES: The Next Silicon Valley? Small Town America.