"There's a lot of areas of deep convergence between ASEAN, its outlook on the Indo-Pacific, and the US Indo-Pacific strategy," Ambassador Abraham said during a special interview with ANTARA here on Friday.
This convergence is rooted in a shared vision, a shared set of values, and a shared set of outcomes that the US and ASEAN want to achieve for stability in the Indo-Pacific, he added.
Both the US and ASEAN believe that the two are better off when the region is stable, prosperous, secure, and resilient against emerging challenges, Abraham observed.
Therefore, he said he believes there are many areas of significant convergence between the AOIP and the US Indo-Pacific strategy, and the US wants to continue working with ASEAN to further those shared visions.
Related news: Ambassador Abraham emphasizes US commitment to ASEAN centrality
The US also supports ASEAN centrality. This has been demonstrated by the commitment conveyed by US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as well as members of the US Congress.
"US is deeply committed to ASEAN centrality. President Biden, Vice President Harris, the entirety of the US government has made clear our, and importantly bipartisan members of Congress to make clear, our deep commitment to ASEAN and ASEAN centrality," said the ambassador.
Abraham also lauded Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN this year.
He said Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship has contributed to an unprecedented expansion of ASEAN and US cooperation and relations.
"Under their leadership, as our country coordinator and their leadership as chair, we've seen an unprecedented expansion of ASEAN and US cooperation and relations," he highlighted.
That expansion, he added, has most tangibly been manifested in the elevation of the relationship between the US and the ASEAN to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
As a part of that comprehensive strategic partnership, there has been an expansion in the areas of cooperation, ranging from health security, climate, energy, and women's issues, to transportation, to improve the lives of one billion people on both sides, the ambassador pointed out.
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Reporter: Katriana
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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