At the event (Photo: asean.org) Jakarta(VNA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen their longstanding relations at the 35th ASEAN-US Dialogue held on March 7 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Sidharto Suryodipuro, Director-General of ASEAN Cooperation at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs co-chaired the event, which brought together senior officials of ASEAN member states, the Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political-Security Community, and Timor-Leste as Observer.
The US conveyed its unwavering support for ASEAN Community-building efforts, assistance towards the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and commitment to ASEAN Centrality through its active participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms.
Building on the momentum of the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of their dialogue relations and the establishment of their comprehensive strategic partnership last year, the meeting acknowledged the strengthening of cooperation between both sides across the three ASEAN Community pillars.
The two sides looked forward to the adoption of the Annex to the ASEAN-US Plan of Action for 2021-2025 at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference Plus One (PMC 1) Session with the US in July, as well as the convening of the 11th ASEAN-US Summit in September this year.
ASEAN and the US underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation in the four key areas outlined in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) including concrete actions to support its implementation, as well as in other areas such as maritime cooperation; transnational crime, combatting trafficking in person, non-proliferation and disarmament; intra-parliamentary cooperation; digital economy, trade, investment, and financial stability.
To speed up awareness of the ASEAN-US relations on both sides, the US expressed its intention to establish an ASEAN-US centre.
The US reaffirmed its commitment to support Timor-Leste as an observer of ASEAN with the relevant capacity-building programmes./.
