HANOI, Vietnam (AP) – President Donald Trump left the summit with his Southeast Asian allies for the third year in a row on Saturday, as rival China prepares to increase its influence in the region with comprehensive free trade deals.
National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said Trump regrets being unable to attend the Sum Nine Summit with 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but stressed the importance of relations with the region.
“In this time of global crisis, the US-Asia strategic partnership has become even more important as we work together to combat the coronavirus,” O’Brien said in remarks at the opening ceremony, which saw members of Asia look at each other. Countries.
Trump attended the ASEAN summit in 2017, but only sent delegates during the last two meetings. A special summit with ASEAN that they were to host in Las Vegas in March was called because of the epidemic.
Trump has been busy challenging the results of the Nov. 3 presidential election, insisting he was a victim of election fraud. Most countries have accepted Joe Biden’s victory.
The White House said in a statement that O’Brien was also representing the U.S. at a subsequent East Asia Virtual Summit on Saturday that included members from Asia, as well as China, Japan and South Korea. Despite Trump’s absence, he said ASEAN is at the heart of his vision for a “free and open India-Pacific”, Washington’s strategy to curb China’s growing influence in the region.
China’s stance in the region is set to expand with a free trade agreement that will be signed on Sunday. The agreement, which will cover about a third of the world economy, includes ASEAN countries, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Australia and New Zealand.
India backed the plan last year, and the treaty does not include the United States, despite US $ 2 trillion in trade with countries.
In his remarks on Saturday, O’Brien described ASIN as the fourth-largest trading partner for the US, with more than 4 4 billion in trade last year.
Referring to the personal protective devices used to protect against coronavirus, O’Brien said, “We greatly appreciate the efforts of ASEAN partners to keep key supply chains open, run factories and continue PPE.”
He noted that the United States has contributed $ 87 million to fight coronavirus in Southeast Asia, including American-made ventilators and PPEs.
“The United States has your back and we know you have ours,” O’Brien said.
In a separate summit the following Saturday, China, Japan and South Korea called for deeper regional cooperation to fight the epidemic.
“Facing another wave of potential winter, we will be able to work together to reduce the epidemic and reopen the economy,” said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the two countries should work together towards the development and equal supply of vaccines and treatments, and establish an effective mechanism for preparing to fight new infectious diseases.
He said the pace of global economic recovery would be very uneven amid trade protectionism and uncertainty in financial markets. The dynamic transition to the digital economy could also widen the gap between social classes, Moon warns.
“We must work to strengthen the resilience of our economy and to identify steps for inclusive, sustainable development,” he said.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Tokyo is committed to enhancing Asia’s economic resilience and is committed to deepening ties with Southeast Asia.
Japan and South Korea have each pledged 1 1 million for the Asian Covid-19 fund, which is meant to assist member countries in medical equipment and financial research on drugs and vaccines against coronavirus.
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