AUSS to underscore greater US-ASEAN partnership

PUTRAJAYA, May 9 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN-United States Special Summit (AUSS), to be held in Washington D.C. from May 12-13, is expected to issue a Joint Vision Statement underscoring the commitment and aspiration in enhancing ASEAN-US partnership.

The Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) in a statement Monday said an enhanced ASEAN-US partnership is in the interest of enduring peace, stability, security and shared prosperity for all.

The special summit will also serve as a strategic platform for ASEAN and the US to review and explore pragmatic cooperation to strengthen the existing partnership.

“The special summit is expected to address regional and international issues of common concern, economic cooperation, COVID-19 and health security, climate change and clean energy, among others,” the statement read.

The special summit, which will be attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, is to be held in conjunction with the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-US Dialogue Relations.

Ismail Sabri will lead the Malaysian delegation to the summit, accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah dan Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

During the summit, Ismail Sabri and other ASEAN Leaders are scheduled to participate in a series of meetings and discussions with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Other programmes prepared by the US include sessions with the Leadership of the US Congress and some members of the US Cabinet and American business leaders,” said Wisma Putra.

While in Washington D.C., Ismail Sabri is also scheduled to attend the Keluarga Malaysia Hari Raya celebration and meet with the Malaysian diaspora there.

Saifuddin, in an interview with media on Saturday, said the prime minister is expected to raise several regional issues such as Myanmar and other international issues in the meeting.

Apart from The Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte and Myanmar junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, he said all other eight heads of government of ASEAN countries will participate in the special summit.

Duterte is unable to attend because of the elections in the country, while the Myanmar junta chief was not invited following the country’s internal political turmoil.

-- BERNAMA