At the 31^st ASEAN-US Dialogue in Selangor, Malaysia over the past two days, the two sides affirmed the importance of their strategic partnership and reviewed their cooperation in politics, security, economics, culture and society. They agreed to boost cooperation in combating crime, ensuring maritime security, cyber security, and water security, and responding to climate change.

Acting Assistant to the US Secretary of State Susan Thornton highlighted ASEAN’s role in the US’s policy in the Asia Pacific region and in the regional architecture. She said the US will boost cooperation with ASEAN in response to non-traditional security challenges. Sharing the US’s Indo-Pacific policy, she said the US wanted to work with ASEAN and regional partners to promote law-based balance, equality, and free trade. She praised ASEAN and China for promoting practical negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea saying the US supports peaceful solutions to disputes in the region on the basis of respect for sovereignty and non-militarization.

In his address, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung reiterated ASEAN’s stance and principles on the East Sea issue and urged the US and ASEAN to cooperate in dealing with piracy, human and drug trafficking and illegal fishing, protecting the marine environment, and responding to natural disasters.