PM to push for closer cooperation at US-Asean meet
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha will push for sustainable development as well as cooperation on security in various forms during the US-Asean Summit in California next week, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
US President Barack Obama has invited 10 Asean leaders to the summit in the Californian resort of Sunnylands on February 15-16 to seek closer cooperation with the regional grouping in all aspects, including political, security and economic issues, Foreign Ministry director-general of Asean Affairs Jakkrit Srivali said. The US would reaffirm its “rebalancing to Asia” policy at the summit while Asean would like to see Washington play a constructive role in the region, he said.
The summit would conclude with the Sunnylands Principle, an expression of political will on both sides as well as highlight the strategic partnership between the two, he said. Asean sits in the middle of a power rivalry between the US and China, especially as some members of the group have territorial disputes with Beijing over the South China Sea.
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