03 Nov 2014
03-Nov-2014
Source: ASEAN Secretariat News
New US Ambassador Presents Credentials to ASEAN
Jakarta, 3 November 2014 - H.E. Nina Hachigian, the new Ambassador of the United States of America to ASEAN today presented her Letter of Credence to H.E. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN, at the ASEAN Secretariat.
Secretary-General Minh congratulated Ambassador Hachigian on her assumption of the office. He expressed his appreciation to the U.S. for its continued engagement in the Asia-Pacific region and its strong commitment to support ASEAN's Community building efforts as well as ASEAN centrality and unity in regional processes. He encouraged both sides to work on new initiatives to strengthen ASEAN-U.S. cooperation in various areas such as non-traditional security issues, including transnational crime and counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, SMEs development, education, and people-to-people contacts.
Ambassador Hachigian thanked Secretary-General Minh and looked forward to working with the ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat in building a stronger ASEAN-U.S. partnership. She stressed that ASEAN centrality and ASEAN integration play an important role as the 'stabilising force' for the region's continued economic development. In this regard, she also expressed the U.S.' firm commitment to work with ASEAN in promoting respect for international law and norms and in realising the common goals of a unified ASEAN that is central to continuing peace and prosperity of the region.
Secretary-General Minh and Ambassador Hachigian exchanged views on regional and global issues of common interest and concern, such as joint efforts in tackling climate change and disaster management and pandemic and communicable diseases. They looked forward to the successful outcomes of the upcoming Second ASEAN-U.S. Summit to be held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on 13 November, including the adoption of the "ASEAN-U.S. Joint Statement on Climate Change." They also committed to work closely on the next ASEAN-U.S. Plan of Action, which is envisaged to be comprehensive, forward-looking, action-oriented and aimed at elevating the ASEAN-U.S. partnership to a new height.