(AseanAll) — The 36th ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue held on 24 May 2024 in Washington D.C. reaffirmed ASEAN and the U.S.’s commitment to further advance the ASEAN-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
The Senior Officials exchanged views on developments in ASEAN and in the U.S., and reviewed cooperation between both sides over the past year.
The Meeting discussed ways to further advance cooperation under the CSP, and encouraged both sides to exert efforts to materialise the implementation of the ASEAN-U.S. Leaders’ Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific through tangible projects and activities.
ASEAN and U.S. also highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation in the areas of maritime cooperation, trade and investment, energy, digital economy, micro, small and medium enterprises development, science, technology and innovation, environment and climate change, gender equality and women empowerment, connectivity, food security, public health, and Initiative for ASEAN Integration.
Both sides welcomed the launching of the ASEAN-U.S. Center in Arizona State University to further advocate awareness of the ASEAN-U.S. relations on both sides.
Commending the U.S. as the second largest trading partner of ASEAN among Dialogue Partners and the largest ASEAN’s external source of foreign direct investment, ASEAN welcomed further enhancement of economic cooperation through the implementation of the ASEAN-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) and Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) Work Plan , as well as dialogue and engagement between the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
ASEAN appreciated for U.S.’s support in deepening people-to-people contacts, including through Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) and other emerging leadership programmes, the continuation of the United States-ASEAN Institute for Rising Leaders Fellowship, and the United States-ASEAN Fulbright Scholarship Initiative.
Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern.
The meeting was co-chaired by Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, Director-General for ASEAN Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and SOM Leader of Indonesia, and Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs of U.S. Department of State and SOM Leader of the U.S.. Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States (AMS) or their representatives, the Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political-Security Community were in attendance, as well as Timor-Leste as Observer.
