JAKARTA, 17 May 2023 – ASEAN and the U.S. reaffirmed commitment to make their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership meaningful, substantive, and mutually beneficial at the 14thMeeting of the ASEAN-U.S. Joint Cooperation Committee held earlier today at the ASEAN Secretariat.
The meeting acknowledged that the ASEAN-U.S. longstanding partnership has expanded to cover a wide range of areas of cooperation undertaken across the three ASEAN Community pillars. Officials from both sides noted the progress in the implementation of the ASEAN-US Plan of Action (2021-2025) in supporting ASEAN Community-building efforts as well in promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the region.
The meeting discussed areas where robust and meaningful collaboration could be further enhanced including maritime cooperation; transnational crime, cybersecurity, and combatting trafficking in person; digital economy, trade, investment, and financial stability; Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME); energy security; science and technology as well as climate-friendly transportation technologies including electric vehicle ecosystem; smart cities; sustainable infrastructure and connectivity.
Both sides also looked forward to the adoption of the Annex to the ASEAN-U.S. Plan of Action (2021-2025) at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference Plus One Session with the U.S. and the convening of the 11th ASEAN-U.S. Summit in July and September 2023, respectively.
In discussing future cooperation, both sides shared the significance of enhancing cooperation in the four key areas outlined in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, including concrete actions to support its implementation. They also highlighted the importance of deepening sub-regional cooperation and supporting the Initiative for ASEAN Integration; as well as collaborating on emerging areas such as regional health resilience; environment and climate change mitigation; biodiversity conservation; sustainable agriculture and food security; education and people-to-people initiatives; youth and women empowerment, Women, Peace and Security agenda; sustainable development; bio-circular and green economy.
Notwithstanding the above, the U.S. apprised the Meeting on the status of bipartisan legislation named the Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations (PARTNER) with ASEAN Act, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2023 and is currently with the U.S. Senate. The U.S also shared that it is exploring the modalities that will facilitate the establishment of an ASEAN-U.S. Centre in the U.S.
The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to support Timor-Leste as an Observer of ASEAN. Both sides also candidly exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN Derry Aman and Ambassador of the U.S. to ASEAN Yohannes Abraham co-chaired the meeting. In attendance were the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States to ASEAN or their representatives and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat and Timor-Leste as an Observer.
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