US President Barack Obama (Photo:asianjournal.com)Vientiane (VNA) – American engagement with Asia will endure after he leaves the While House, Barack Obama has said during his final visit to the region as US president.
Addressing in the Lao capital of Vientiane on September 6, Obama emphasised America’s interest in the Asia-Pacific reflects fundamental national interests.
He summarised the US pivot to the Asia-Pacific policy, in which he stressed a key priority to deepening the US engagement with nations and peoples of the Asia-Pacific.
He pledged to maintain the increase of military cooperation with countries such as the Philippines, Singapore and India, as well as a push for greater trade with the region.
Touching down in Vientiane on September 5 for the ASEAN-US Summit and the East Asian Summit, Obama became the first US president to visit Laos in office.
During his stay in Vientiane, Obama is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with President Bounnhang Vorachit and other senior officials of Laos to discuss measures to enhance the two countries’ cooperation in economics, development, people-to-people diplomacy and other fields.-VNA
