VO Leaders of the United States and the 10 Asean member countries to strengthen their cooperation INTRO: Leaders of the United States and the 10 Asean member countries have pledged to strengthen their cooperation, forge ahead for the mutual prosperity of their peoples, and respect each other's interests. Details with our news team Houmphaeng Vilayphone who is in California to report on the Special ASEAN-US Summit STORY: The leaders made the commitment in their joint statement issued shortly after their two-day summit closed here on Tuesday local time. The first-ever standalone special summit was co-chaired by US President Barack Obama and President Choummly Sayasone of Laos, which chairs Asean this year. …. His sound bite….. from the press conference President Obama said in a press conference held shortly after the summit that the gathering was ‘a successful one'. In their joint statement, the leaders committed to mutual respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality and political independence of all nations by firmly upholding the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, the Asean Charter, and international law. They adhered to the importance of shared prosperity, sustainable, inclusive economic growth and development, and the nurturing of young people to sustain continued peace, development, and stability for mutual benefit. The leaders expressed mutual recognition of the importance of pursuing policies that lead to dynamic, open, and competitive economies. The leaders committed to ensure opportunities for all of their peoples, through strengthening democracy, enhancing good governance and adherence to the rule of law, promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, and protecting the environment. In addition, they expressed respect and support for Asean centrality and Asean-led mechanisms in the evolving regional architecture of the Asia-Pacific. They committed to firm adherence to a rules-based regional and international order that upholds and protects the rights and privileges of all states. They expressed their shared commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes without resorting to the threat or use of force in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law. The leaders shared a commitment to maintain peace, security and stability in the region, ensuring maritime security and safety, including the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas. They expressed commitment to promote cooperation to address common challenges in the maritime domain, strong resolve to lead on global issues such as terrorism and violent extremism, trafficking in persons, drug trafficking, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as illicit trafficking of wildlife and timber. In addition, they expressed a shared commitment to address climate change and implement individual countries' nationally determined contributions made under the Paris Climate Agreement. The leaders also shared a commitment to promote security and stability in cyberspace consistent with the norms of responsible state behaviour. They supported the advancement of a strong, stable, politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible, people-oriented, people-centered and rules-based Asean Community. The leaders made a shared commitment to strengthen people-to-people connectivity through programmes that engage Asean and American citizens, particularly young people. They shared a commitment to promote a global partnership for sustainable development and a commitment to enhance collaboration at the international and regional level to uphold existing Asean-led mechanisms. They also shared a commitment to continue political dialogue at the Head of State/Government level through leaders' attendance at the annual US-Asean Summit and the East Asia Summit. …. His sound bite….. from the press conference Hailing the sound US-Asean relations and cooperation that had grown in recent years, President Obama said he was confident that whoever the next US President may be will build on the foundation that he and his Asean counterparts have laid, saying there is strong, sustained, bipartisan support for American engagement in the Asia Pacific region.

• published: 24 Feb 2016
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