Delegates at the meeting (Photo: Vietnamese permanent mission to ASEAN) Jakarta (VNA) – The 10th meeting of theASEAN-US Joint Cooperation Committee took place in Jakarta, Indonesia onFebruary 28, focusing on evaluating projects and cooperation activities withinthe ASEAN-US strategic partnership.
At the annual meeting at ambassador level, ASEAN membercountries and the US shared positive assessments of progress in ASEAN-USrelations over the years as well as the implementation of collaborationactivities in the ASEAN-US Plan for 2016-2020 in many areas, which has made thebilateral partnership both more practical and effective.
Along with contributing to ASEAN regional cooperationmechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence MinisterialMeeting Plus (ADMM ) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), the US has conducted severalactivities in collaboration with ASEAN in maritime security, cyber security andthe settlement of trans-national challenges such as terrorism and naturaldisasters.
In terms of economics, ASEAN and the US have worked togetherto realise the commitments of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement andthe Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) Initiative, contributing to enhancingbilateral trade ties, promoting investment and developing small andmedium-sized enterprises, they said.
The US is the third largest trade partner of ASEAN withtwo-way trade exceeding 233 billion USD in 2017. The US is also the fourthbiggest direct investor of the bloc with total investment of 5.4 billion USD in2017.
At the same time, development assistance programmes fundedby the US have supported ASEAN’s efforts in narrowing development gaps,strengthening intra-bloc connectivity and reinforcing the ASEAN Communitythrough a number of initiatives such as ASEAN Connectivitythrough Trade and Investment (ACTI), ASEAN-USPartnership for Good Governance, Equitable and Sustainable Development andSecurity Programme (US-PROGRESS) and ASEAN Single Window.
ASEAN member countries highly valued the US’s initiatives ineducation and training, including the ASEAN Volunteer Youth Programme, the Young Southeast Asian LeadersInitiative (YSEALI), Fulbright scholarship and LowerMekong Initiative (LMI) training programme.
Going forward, ASEAN and the US will prioritise implementingdecisions made at the ASEAN-US summits in 2017 and 2018, while seekingcooperation priorities in the future.
The US affirmed that it attaches great attention to affiliatewith the ASEAN and emphasised the association’s role in implementing theIndo-Pacific strategy, as well as the central role of the grouping in ASEAN-ledmechanisms.
The US will continue strengthening comprehensive partnershipwith the ASEAN through the action plan and new programmes, including the ASEAN-US Partnership for Regional Optimization withinthe Political-Security and Socio-Cultural Communities (PROSPECT) programme, andthe Inclusive Growth in ASEAN throughInnovation, Trade and E-Commerce (IGNITE), and the Micro, Small andMedium-sized Enterprises Development Programme.
On the occasion, the US thankedVietnam for hosting the second DPRK-USA Summit. The hosting showed the role of thecountry and ASEAN in promoting dialogue, constructing and maintaining peace,stability and security in the region.
The US will continuesupporting efforts and role of ASEAN in negotiating for a Code of Conduct inthe East Sea with China and ensuring maritime security and safety in the EastSea as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with internationallaw, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.-VNA
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