US, ASEAN elevate relations to comprehensive strategic partnership

A view of the US-ASEAN Special Summit with the participation of President Joe Biden and ASEAN leaders on May 13 – Photo: REUTERS

In the “shared vision” statement broadcast on the White House website on the morning of May 14 (Vietnam time), the US and ASEAN decided to upgrade the relationship to a “meaningful, substantive and mutually beneficial” comprehensive strategic partnership from November 2022.

The US push to upgrade relations with ASEAN has been expected by many observers, considering that the bloc and China and Australia established a comprehensive strategic partnership last year.

The 28-point US-ASEAN joint statement sums up what President Biden and ASEAN leaders have discussed and worked on during two days in the US.

In particular, the US pledged to continue to support ASEAN in ensuring health security and recovering together after COVID-19, pledging to work with other countries to meet the needs of “high-standard” infrastructure development. , transparent, low-carbon and climate-resilient”.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the leaders emphasized that stability and peace in this sea are meaningful to all parties, and called for the dispute to be resolved by international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. .

“We will wholeheartedly maintain peace, security and stability in the region, as well as ensure maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea such as described in UNCLOS 1982, ensuring unimpeded lawful maritime commerce as well as demilitarization and self-restraint in the conduct of activities,” the statement read.

A number of other issues such as ensuring ASEAN is a nuclear-weapon-free region, cooperation in biodiversity protection, enhanced people-to-people exchanges, etc. were also mentioned in the statement.

The issue of the conflict in Ukraine was included at the end of the statement, in which the leaders affirmed the importance of respecting a country’s sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity.

“We reiterate our call to abide by the Charter of the United Nations and international law. We stress the importance of an immediate end to hostilities and creating an enabling environment for resolution. peaceful resolution.

We support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General in finding a peaceful solution. We also call for facilitating fast, safe and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance for those in need in Ukraine, protecting civilians, humanitarian workers and those in need. in vulnerable situations,” the statement appealed.