More signs of the U.S.'s growing focus on Asia.

More than 1,000 business and government leaders from the U.S. and the Indo-Pacific region met in Bangkok, Thailand today for the Indo-Pacific Business Forum. The meeting was to promote the value of high-standard investment, transparency, rule of law, and private-sector-led economic development.

It was headlined by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who led a delegation to explore business deals in the region. The State Department also released a progress report on U.S. economic and defense strategy for the region entitled, "A Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Advancing a Shared Vision."

According to a state department release, the report details two years of diplomatic, economic, governance and security initiatives that show the United States' continuing commitment and strengthening of bilateral ties.