HM to attend US-ASEAN summit

Rabiatul Kamit
CALIFORNIA

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and his ASEAN counterparts will convene for a special summit with US President Barack Obama at the Sunnylands Centre in Rancho Mirage, California today.

It is the first time Washington is hosting a standalone summit for leaders of the 10-nation bloc on American soil as the US deepens its engagement with ASEAN, a central pillar of its rebalance to Asia.

The move marked the Obama administration’s commitment to the region of diplomatic, economic and strategic importance, which sits astride some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and is a key partner in addressing regional and global challenges.

Both sides are looking to build on the momentum at the two-day summit, following the elevation of their relationship to the level of a strategic partnership at the ASEAN Summit last November.

US officials said the Sunnylands Summit will comprise a retreat session on economic issues to highlight the strength of the US-ASEAN economic relationship, where they will identify ways to promote further trade and investment.

The leaders will also exchange ideas on policy reforms to promote growth and integration by focusing on key themes such as innovation and entrepreneurship.

There will be discussions on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam part of the pact.

Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand have also expressed interest in joining the ambitious free trade agreement.

Meanwhile, the working dinner will enable the leaders to share views on broader strategic developments in the region.

Although the dinner was designed to be in an informal setting, Obama is expected to take the opportunity to stress America’s commitment to the region as well as importance of issues including governance, accountable institutions and rule of law.

The retreat session on political and security issues will explore ways to enhance cooperation on major political security challenges confronting the region.

Among the topics of conversation will be upholding international law in the South China Sea maritime dispute involving ASEAN claimants Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. The leaders will also discuss ISIS in relation to terrorism and countering violent terrorism.

Other key items on the political and security agenda include trafficking-in-persons, global health and climate change.

Prior to His Majesty’s departure to the US, several members of the Royal family gathered at the Sultan’s Flight Hangar in Rimba to bid adieu including His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office.

Also present were HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah; HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik; HRH Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; and HRH Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah.


Sumber - The Brunei Times



HM, ASEAN leaders in US for Summit

His Majesty being greeted by officials at the hotel at Rancho Mirage in Sunnylands on Sunday.

Rabiatul Kamit
CALIFORNIA

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, arrived in California on Sunday ahead of a special summit hosted by United States President Barack Obama for ASEAN heads of state this week.

The monarch and the other nine leaders from the regional grouping will meet the American president in Sunnylands, Rancho Mirage, on February 15 and 16 as both sides seek to intensify their recently-elevated strategic partnership.

Economic cooperation and security issues are expected to top the agenda of the two-day standalone summit, a first-of-its-kind to take place in the US as Washington demonstrates commitment to ASEAN as central to its Asia Pacific rebalance.

Engagement with the 10-nation bloc is of strategic importance to the US as the Southeast Asian region, which straddles some of the world’s vital shipping lanes, is a key partner in addressing regional and global challenges.

While the Special US-ASEAN Leaders Summit is slated to produce an outcome document highlighting shared principles, United States officials said it will be less formal compared to traditional meetings featuring strict agendas and tightly negotiated joint statements.

His Majesty’s arrival amid heightened security at the nearby Palm Springs International Airport was greeted by US Assistant Chief of Protocol Gladys Boluda and a number of high-level senior representatives from the Brunei government.

Among those welcoming the Sultan was Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Also present were YB Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at PMO, and Dato Paduka Hj Serbini Hj Ali, Brunei’s ambassador to the United States.

Collectively, ASEAN states comprise the third largest economy in Asia and the seventh largest economy in the world with a combined GDP of US$2.4 trillion. It is also the US’s fourth largest trading partner with trade in goods topping US$226 billion.

The US along with ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam are part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an ambitious free trade pact that aims to deepen economic ties and boost growth between the 12 nations involved.

With over 39 years as dialogue partners, the United States and ASEAN cooperate on a diverse range of issues from countering terrorism and pandemic disease to upholding international law and standards in the South China Sea and other issues.


Sumber - The Brunei Times