VIENTIANE, Laos -- President Barack Obama said Americans can get "lazy" and insular, and he hopes his presidency has helped broaden their worldview.
Speaking to a group of young leaders from across Southeast Asia, Obama said the U.S. "is and can be a great force for good in the world." But because of its size, he said Americans "haven't always had to know about other countries."
In the United States, Obama said, "sometimes you can feel lazy."
The president said he's tried to change that by deepening connections with other parts of the world, particularly fast-growing Asia.
If Americans aren't engaging and learning, Obama said they'll miss opportunities and get "left behind."
He said Southeast Asia means a lot to him and that driving around Laos reminds him of his childhood.
Obama is telling young people at an event in Luang Prabang that he lived in Indonesia as a boy and his sister is half Indonesian. His brother-in-law is Malaysian and Obama's late mother spent much of her life in Southeast Asia, helping women make money by selling handicrafts and developing small businesses.
The president said his commitment to deepening America's ties to the region is very real.
Obama noted that he is the first American president to meet regularly with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
He's also telling the young adults that they will build the future of the Southeast Asian region and the world. (AP)
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