Joe Biden to receive ASEAN leaders in Washington

President Joe Biden will host leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Washington in May, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

The U.S.-ASEAN summit will be held in Washington from May 12 to 13, chaired by President Biden. According to a White House statement, the summit is intended to “demonstrate the United States’ continued commitment to ASEAN, recognizing the association’s central role in finding solutions to the region’s most pressing problems.” The summit will also mark the 45th anniversary of the U.S.-ASEAN partnership.

The previous U.S.-ASEAN summit, chaired by Joe Biden, took place in October 2021. At that time, the president announced that the United States would provide $102 million for new initiatives to expand U.S.-ASEAN engagement in economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, health care, combating the climate crisis, promoting broad-based economic growth, promoting gender equality, and deepening personal connections between Americans and Southeast Asians.

“A strong and robust partnership with Southeast Asia is a priority for the Biden-Harris administration. Our shared aspirations for the region will continue to underpin our shared commitment to an Indo-Pacific region that is free and open, secure, connected and sustainable,” Psaki said in a statement.

ASEAN, established in 1967, includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. In addition, Papua New Guinea and East Timor have observer status within the association.