"ASEAN should have a common ground to empower people with freedom, security and resilience to achieve an inclusive and equal growth among the members."
Jakarta (Antara News) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States are celebrating the 36th anniversary of their strategic partnership and have committed to advancing their level of cooperation.

ASEANs Deputy Secretary General for Political-Security Community Nyan Lynn said during a breakfast reception on Friday, Dec 6, that the commitments made towards advancing cooperation had been indicated through the success of the first ASEAN-U.S. Summit held in October.

"We have had many achievements during the 36 years cooperation and the success of the first ASEAN-U.S. Summit demonstrated our equal and sustainable partnership," said Lynn.

Lynn added that the ASEAN Secretariat had also welcomed continuing cooperation between ASEAN and the United States and encouraged both sides to look into other potential areas that would contribute to ASEAN Community building by 2015 and beyond.

The United Stated Ambassador to ASEAN, David Carden, stated in his remarks that during his three year-assignment in the Southeast Asia region, he had noted that the most important thing to do was to empower people, so that they could live a better life.

"ASEAN wants to step up economic integration, but economy is not an idea. ASEAN should have a common ground to empower people with freedom, security and resilience to achieve an inclusive and equal growth among the members," Carden stated.

The United States began engaging with ASEAN as a dialogue partner in 1977 and has actively maintained cooperation with ASEAN ever since.

In the early 1990s, development cooperation between the two rose dramatically through the launch of economic programs focusing on trade and investment, technology transfers and education.

Till date, the ASEAN-U.S. trade contributes US$200 billion to ASEAN's total trade of US$2.5 trillion.(*)


Reporter: Azi Fitriyanti
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2013