US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun and foreign ministers stressed the importance of law-based international order in the settlement of disputes and rising militarisation in the East Sea at the virtual 27^th ASEAN Regional Forum.

US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun (Photo: Yonhap)

Spokesperson for the US Department of State Morgan Ortagus said on 12 September that participant highlighted a need for unobstructed humanitarian approach, violence ending in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and the US’s support for a roadmap to long-term peace on the Korean peninsula.

Expressing concern over the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, they also called for the region’s sound response and vaccine production at reasonable prices.

Biegun urged countries to exchange information in a timely and transparent manner and informed that the US Government has allocated 20.5 billion USD for COVID-19 vaccine development as well as the US’s support for other countries.

He also highlighted the launch of the Mekong – US partnership and announced the US’s over 150 million USD in additional funding for the fight against trans-national crimes on the Mekong River, including human and drug trafficking, wildlife and natural resource trade

Acknowledging women’s strong role as peace creators and leaders, he affirmed the US’s commitment to promoting Women, Peace and Global Security agenda, and stressed the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for ASEAN in developing the region’s action plan to realise the agenda.    

Source: VNA