(VOVworld) - President Barack Obama will host the ASEAN summit with ASEAN leaders in Rancho Mirage, California on February 15-16.

US President Barack Obama speaks during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business and Investment Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 21, 2015.  (Photo: AFP/SAUL LOEB)

This unprecedented gathering - the first hosted by the US with the ASEAN leaders will promote Obama’s aim of “rebalancing” US foreign policy towards Asia.

The White House said this summit will create a forum for leaders to strengthen cooperation under the new US-ASEAN strategic partnership, launched in November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, on political, security, and economic issues.