Washington, April 17 (BNA) President Joe Biden will host leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Washington next month at a summit, the White House said.
The May 12-13 meeting is intended to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to being a partner with countries in the region, according to the Associated Press.
The White House had previously announced that the summit would be held from March 28 to 29, but the regional grouping of countries known as ASEAN had requested a postponement due to scheduling concerns among some of its members.
The summit will celebrate 45 years of relations between the United States and ASEAN countries. The gathering follows Biden’s participation in the October 2021 summit where he announced $102 million in new initiatives to help these countries combat COVID-19, health security, climate change, economic growth and gender equality.
“It is a priority for the Biden-Harris administration to serve as a strong and reliable partner in Southeast Asia,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Saturday in a statement. “Our common aspirations for the region will continue to reinforce our shared commitment to advance the Indo-Pacific region to be free, open, secure, connected and resilient.”
The ten ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Its members have been at odds with each other over Myanmar, which has been riven by violent unrest since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February last year.
ASEAN is seeking to implement a five-point plan for Myanmar reached last year that emphasizes dialogue, humanitarian assistance and an end to violence. But Myanmar’s ruling military junta has delayed implementation of the plan even as the country plunged into a situation described by some United Nations experts as civil war.
Myanmar’s lack of cooperation led to ASEAN last year barring its leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, from attending its annual summit, an unprecedented move for the body whose members traditionally avoid public criticism of each other and work unanimously.
It applied a similar policy to subsequent meetings, saying it would only allow Myanmar to send non-political representatives.
Biden hosted Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for talks last month during which the president tried to reassure Singapore and other Pacific allies that the administration remains focused on the region.