In his statement commemorating ASEAN’s 53rd founding anniversary on Friday, Pompeo affirmed that the US-ASEAN strategic partnership contributes to their joint vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
He said the US and ASEAN have worked together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, adding the US has pledged nearly 85 million USD in emergency medical and humanitarian aid to help ASEAN countries fight the epidemic. The two sides will continue to promote transparent economic growth in the post-pandemic recovery process, he said.