US issues press release on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of ASEAN's founding

(Baonghean) - Today (August 8) marks the 49th anniversary of the founding of the ASEAN Community.

ASEAN celebrates its 49th founding anniversary. Photo: ASEAN.

On this occasion, the US State Department issued a press release emphasizing the strong partnership between the world's leading economy and the group of 10 dynamic developing countries. The content of the release is as follows:

As we celebrate the 49th anniversary of ASEAN, we recognize the growing importance of Southeast Asia in the diplomatic, economic and strategic spheres. This is one of the most dynamic regions in the world, and we understand that global peace and prosperity are closely linked to its future. Since its establishment in 1967, ASEAN has promoted a rules-based order in the Asia-Pacific region, protecting the rights of nations, large and small. ASEAN’s contributions to peace and stability are vital for economic growth, mutual security and environmental sustainability.

The U.S.-ASEAN partnership is stronger than ever. The United States and ASEAN share a common interest in cooperation and maintaining order in the Asia-Pacific. 2016 marks a major change for ASEAN, as Laos’s ASEAN Chairmanship slogan emphasizes: “Turning Vision into Reality.” The unprecedented cooperation prospects we have implemented, from countering violent extremism to promoting women entrepreneurs, show that our strategic partnership is a living reality and is producing concrete results that benefit all parties.

US and ASEAN leaders at the Sunnylands Summit. Photo: Internet.

This past February, the United States and ASEAN reached a historic milestone at the Sunnylands Special Leaders Summit, the first-ever US-ASEAN summit to be held in the United States. One of the tangible outcomes of this important event was US-ASEAN Connect, a strategic, unified framework that deepens the US’s economic partnership with ASEAN. This initiative is part of a larger agenda for greater integration, engagement, and innovation in the region.

Next year, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. It has been a long journey, and ASEAN will continue to be an important element of the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, a central pillar of US foreign policy in the 21st century. The United States looks forward to working even more closely with a strong ASEAN to make Southeast Asia and the world a better place.

Phu Binh

(According to state.gov)