The US and the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have discussed a wide range of pressing regional issues, including maritime security and transnational crime, during the just-concluded annual dialogue here between the two sides.

Noting that the annual dialogue is a reflection of the strong and enduring relationship between ASEAN and the US, a joint statement said the meeting held last week discussed pressing regional issues across ASEAN’s political-security, economic, and socio-cultural pillars.

“The meeting discussed a wide range of issues in the ASEAN-US relationship, including maritime security, transnational crime, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, the ASEAN-US Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) Initiative, energy, education, rule of law, and development in the Lower Mekong Sub-region,” it said.

Senior Officials from participating nations also discussed preparations for the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) Session with the US, and the first ever inaugural ASEAN-US Summit scheduled later this year.

They agreed to hold the 27th ASEAN-US Dialogue in Myanmar in 2014.

The Dialogue was co-chaired by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs’ Acting Assistant Secretary Joseph Y Yun and Director-General of the ASEAN Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Myanmar Aung Lynn.

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