The United States will host a special summit meeting with Southeast Asian nations in late March, a US official said on Monday, as the administration of President Joe Biden seeks to step up engagement with the region seen as the key to countering China's increasing clout.
The administration views it as "a top priority" to serve as a "strong, reliable partner to Asean and work together to address the challenges of our time," the official said, adding that the meeting between Biden and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) leaders is slated for March 28 and 29 in Washington.
"Our shared interests, values and vision for the region will advance an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, secure and resilient," added the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The bloc comprises of Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines Singapore, and Vietnam. But Myanmar, where the military seized power in a coup in February last year, is unlikely to take part in the upcoming summit.
Also Monday during an online think tank event, White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said Biden is expected to travel to Southeast Asia to engage in key gatherings involving Asean later this year.
Last year, Biden attended Asean-related summits that took place in an online format amid the coronavirus pandemic. Biden has emphasised the importance of "showing up," in contrast to his predecessor Donald Trump who was criticised by Asia-Pacific allies for largely snubbing key meetings in the region.
