ASEAN, US Seek Closer Ties in Trade, Security and Regional Stability

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, May 10 (Bernama) -- Southeast Asian nations have reaffirmed their intention to engage the United States (US) in constructive dialogue to address trade-related concerns and maintain strong, mutually beneficial trade relations, according to the ASEAN Secretariat.

Recognising close trade and investment ties, the bloc expressed its commitment to exploring avenues for further cooperation with Washington through existing economic platforms and high-level engagement to find mutually acceptable solutions.

This includes leveraging mechanisms such as the ASEAN-US Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement and ongoing discussions between ASEAN Economic Ministers and the US Trade Representative, the secretariat said in a statement.

The matter was discussed at the 16th ASEAN-US joint cooperation committee meeting, co-chaired by Cambodia’s permanent representative to ASEAN, Heng Sarith, and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the US mission to ASEAN, Kate Rebholz, at the ASEAN headquarters on Friday.

Both sides confirmed their shared commitment to strengthening the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and welcomed continued US support for ASEAN community-building efforts, ASEAN Centrality, and promoting peace, security, and stability in the region via ASEAN-led mechanisms.

The secretariat said the meeting also supported a US proposal for an ASEAN-US leaders’ joint vision statement, which will guide the partnership beyond 2025.

Key areas for future collaboration were highlighted, including defence, transnational crime, maritime cooperation, humanitarian mine action, artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, education, public health, biodiversity, energy, disaster preparedness, and people-to-people exchanges.

Meanwhile, the US reiterated its commitment to ASEAN, emphasising the region’s central role in the broader regional architecture and its shaping of regional dynamics, the secretariat noted.

Discussions also covered international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East and Ukraine.

Both sides expressed their desire to enhance collaboration to address emerging challenges and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, the secretariat added.

-- BERNAMA