Washington DC (VNA) – The US on September 9 introduced specificcooperation and support programmes for ASEAN member states, on the occasion ofthe fifth anniversary of the US-ASEAN Strategic Partnership.

The programmes focus on four main fields:strengthening public health systems for the future, building connectivitythrough human capital development, advancing partnerships in economiccooperation, and promoting maritime cooperation for a secure Indo-Pacific.

In the first field, the US continues to be aleader in global health, including providing 87 million USD for ASEAN countriesto fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The US commits to standing shoulder-to-shoulderwith ASEAN partners to mitigate the pandemic and strengthen the bloc’s abilityto prevent, detect, and respond to future zoonotic and other infectious diseaseoutbreaks through several new initiatives such as the USAID’s support for theASEAN Public Health Emergency Coordination System, and the opening of aSoutheast Asia regional office of the US Centres for Disease Control andPrevention in Hanoi.

Regarding the improvement of connectivitythrough human capital development, the US government works alongside theprivate sector to improve the lives and well-being of people across theIndo-Pacific. Programmes focused on people-to-people exchange, science andtechnology, entrepreneurship, education, technical training, and more arerooted in trust and personal relationships.

The US Department of State is working withthe Congress to provide funding for the new Young Southeast Asian LeadersInitiative (YSEALI) Academy at Fulbright University Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh Cityto offer executive-level capacity-building seminars for entry- to mid-levelprofessionals ages 25-40 from across Southeast Asia around the themes oftechnology and innovation, public policy, and entrepreneurship.

In terms of economic cooperation, the US shares ASEAN’s concern for theCOVID-19 pandemic’s economic impact. The country’s support for the ASEAN SingleWindow (ASW) over the last decade facilitates growing ASEAN trade to the US andintends to link the US electronic customs document system with the ASW.Following the successful second Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF) in Bangkoklast November, the country is working with Vietnam to co-host the third IPBF inthe last week of October. The IPBF fosters millions of dollars in corporatedeals and builds stronger connections across US and ASEAN private sectors.

Finally, the US is seeking ways to improvemaritime cooperation and uphold international law and standards to resolvegeopolitical challenges in order to create a more secure Indo-Pacific region.

ASEAN and the US continue to focus onimproving Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and collaborating on informationsharing best practices, joint and interagency operations, multinationalcooperation using the US Department of Transportation SeaVision application,advances in space-based MDA technology, country briefs, and case studies./.