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WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Joe Biden will meet in mid-Might with the leaders of Southeast Asian nations, with a possible give attention to the rising energy of China, the host nation introduced Saturday.
The summit, initially scheduled for March, “will reveal the US’ enduring dedication to ASEAN,” White Home press secretary Jen Psaki stated in a press release, referring to the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations.
“It’s a prime precedence for the Biden-Harris Administration to function a powerful, dependable associate in Southeast Asia,” the assertion stated.
The summit, initially set for March 28 and 29 earlier than being delayed with out a new date, will now happen on Might 12 and 13.
The assembly was postponed amid reviews that the leaders of some ASEAN members had scheduling conflicts, and because the Ukraine disaster continued to deepen.
America has lengthy stated that strengthening its ties to Asia was a overseas coverage precedence.
On March 29, Biden met on the White Home with a key ASEAN member, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, and stated he wished to make sure that the area stays “free and open” — a reference to what the US sees as makes an attempt by rising energy China to dominate worldwide commerce routes.
Biden had participated in a digital summit with ASEAN leaders in October.
In that summit, Psaki famous in her assertion, Biden introduced initiatives to increase US engagement with ASEAN on COVID-19, local weather change, financial progress and extra.
A tense competitors with China has turn out to be one of many biggest overseas coverage challenges for the US, although different points — the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and the warfare in Ukraine — have demanded extra pressing consideration.
ASEAN members embody Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. A number of of them have skilled rising friction with Beijing.
The US assertion Saturday didn’t clarify whether or not the leaders of Myanmar would in reality attend. The administration has accused that nation’s army leaders of perpetrating a “genocide” in opposition to the Rohingya minority.
ASEAN has sought — in useless up to now — to discover a diplomatic resolution for the reason that army took energy there in a 2021 coup.
© Agence France-Presse
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