Washington celebrates its alliance with ASEAN by reaffirming its commitment to boost solidarity, friendship, and harmony not only with its Southeast Asian neighbors but China as well.
The US State Department said the strong ties between the United States and ASEAN have deepened on the creation of the profoundly-held ideals, values and qualities shared in the Treaty.
In a statement, the State Department emphasized "mutual commitment to promoting peace, amity, and cooperation throughout the Indo-Pacific."
Staunch Ally
Morgan Ortagus, State Department spokesman, said the celebration helps the United States to be aware of their shared responsibility for improving and developing friendly relations, harmony and positive involvement in the Indo-Pacific.
"The Philippines has been the United States' closest Southeast Asian ally for the last seven decades, with Washington a consistent source of military aid and arms sales to Manila," a New York Times article read.
As the southeast Asian community continues to portray a crucial part in this side of the globe, the United States said it looks forward to deepening its strategic alliance with ASEAN, which has "benefited the people of Southeast Asia and the United States, and brought us closer together."
The Indo-Pacific Strategy
In Manila last week, Washington acknowledged the value of the ASEAN projection on the Indo-Pacific and recognized the pivotal role that ASEAN plays in the Indo-Pacific Strategy, during the 8th Philippines-United States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue.
As India commemorated its 69th Republic Day in 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi played host to 10 ASEAN dignitaries as guests of honor at the ceremonial parade in Rajpath, which was presided over by President Ram Nath Kovind.
Both sides have committed to nurture their roles with partners in the ASEAN region hinged on inclusiveness, good governance, transparency and respect for international laws.
The China-ASEAN Alliance
Similarly, China and ASEAN upgraded their system of rules of their free trade agreement to build the biggest free trade zone among developing nations in a partnership sealed in November 2018. The two partners signed a free trade agreement in 2004.
The FTZ is seen to further boost the trade alliance between China and ASEAN member states, and send a strong signal of safeguarding multilateralism and free trade, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang disclosed during a meeting with ASEAN diplomats in Singapore in November, last year.
Meanwhile, in the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 adopted in 2018, the two partners agreed to work on a $1 trillion-dollar two-way trade and $150-billion in investment by 2020.
