VOA常速英语:U.S. and ASEAN Enhanced Cooperation

The United States and ASEAN expressed their commitment to enhance cooperation at the 9th U.S.-ASEAN Joint Cooperation Committee, or JCC, Meeting held recently in Jakarta.

ASEAN and the United States took stock of their cooperation across a wide range of areas and noted the positive progress made in the implementation of the U.S.-ASEAN Plan of Action. The meeting also noted the United States' robust participation in various ASEAN-led forums, such as the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum, and support for ASEAN community building, especially in priority areas of cooperation under the ambit of the three ASEAN Community pillars of political and strategic cooperation, economic cooperation, and socio-cultural engagement.

In reiterating its commitment to strengthen relations with ASEAN, the United States underscored the important role that ASEAN has played in maintaining peace and stability in the region, making ASEAN central to the Indo-Pacific region, and a key partner in the United States' Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Representatives from ASEAN congratulated the United States on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent assumption of office and looked forward to his participation at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference Plus One with the United States and the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting to be held in early August in Singapore.

The annual JCC Meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Dato' Shariffah Norhana Syed Mustaffa [dah-TOK shah-ree-fah NORE-hah-nah shed moo-stah-fah], Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN, and Ms. Jane Bocklage, Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Mission to ASEAN, and attended by the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States as well as representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat and the U.S. Mission to ASEAN.

The United States is proud to partner with ASEAN to enhance the prosperity and security of the United States and the Asia-Pacific region.