The special summit held last month in Washington between US President Joe Biden and nine Southeast Asian leaders clearly emphasised his administration's attempts to engage the region it sees as central to countering China's rising influence in Asia and beyond.
Mr Biden set the tone when he described the US-Asean partnership as "a new era" in relations. That sunny view was backed by a pledge from Washington of US$150 million for Asean states to spend on infrastructure, security, pandemic preparedness and other key areas.
Notably, the summit participants committed to raise their relationship from a strategic partnership to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" by November of this year.
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