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On Thursday, Biden began a two-day summit with the 10-nation Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Washington with a dinner for the leaders on the White Home forward of talks on the State Division on Friday.
Biden smiled broadly as he took a gaggle photograph on the South Garden of the White Home earlier than the dinner with representatives from Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Whereas Russia’s assault of Ukraine is on the agenda, Biden’s administration hopes the efforts will present the international locations that Washington stays centered on the Indo-Pacific and the long-term problem of China, which it views on the nation’s primary competitor.
In November alone, China pledged $1.5 billion in growth help to ASEAN international locations over three years to combat Covid and gasoline financial restoration.
“We have to step up our recreation in Southeast Asia,” a senior U.S. administration official instructed reporters. “We’re not asking international locations to choose between the USA and China. We wish to clarify, although, that the USA seeks stronger relationships.”
The brand new monetary dedication features a $40 million funding in infrastructure meant to assist decarbonize the area’s energy provide and $60 million in maritime safety, in addition to some $15 million in well being funding to help in early detection of Covid-19 and different respiratory pandemics, an official stated. Extra funding will assist the international locations develop digital economic system and synthetic intelligence legal guidelines.
Biden is engaged on extra initiatives, together with “Construct Again Higher World” infrastructure funding and an Indo-Pacific Financial Framework (IPEF). However neither are finalized.
The summit marks the primary time that ASEAN’s leaders collect as a gaggle on the White Home and their first assembly hosted by a U.S. president since 2016.
Eight ASEAN leaders are anticipated to participate within the talks. Myanmar’s chief was excluded over a coup final yr and the Philippines is in transition after an election, although Biden spoke to the nation’s president-elect, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on Wednesday. The nation was represented by its overseas affairs secretary on the White Home.
ASEAN leaders additionally visited Capitol Hill on Thursday for a lunch with congressional leaders.
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