Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is waiting for the formation of an ASEAN-United States Eminent Persons Group (ASEAN-US EPG) which will provide concrete recommendations and propose practical steps to deepen and strengthen US-ASEAN relations, according to an ASEAN chair`s statement.

The ASEAN chair`s statement - a result of the 19th ASEAN Summit on Thursday-- released here on Friday also hailed efforts to increase the ASEAN-US partnership and take it to a strategic level.

ASEAN also agreed to adopt an action plan to increase partnership in efforts to create peace and prosperity in 2011-2015, and reaffirmed a common commitment to strengthening ASEAN-US cooperation in the fields of politics, security, economy, social and culture.

A number of fields which had cooperation potentials included the security field, trade, investment, finance, small business, energy resilience, transportation, science, technology, disaster management, public health, climate change, environment, food resilience, eduction and culture.

Earlier, in Hawaii, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed hope that the United States would increase its involvement in cooperation with countries in the Asian region, including East Asia and Southeast Asia.
(Uu,A014/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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