US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun (Photo: Yonhap)Washington (VNA) – US DeputySecretary of State Stephen E. Biegun and foreign ministers stressed theimportance of law-based international order in the settlement of disputes andrising militarisation in the East Sea at the virtual 27th ASEANRegional Forum.
Spokesperson for the US Department of State Morgan Ortagus said on September 12 that participant highlighted a need for unobstructed humanitarian approach, violenceending in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and the US’s support for a roadmap tolong-term peace on the Korean peninsula.
Expressing concern over the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, theyalso called for the region’s sound response and vaccine production atreasonable prices.
Biegun urged countries to exchange information in a timelyand transparent manner and informed that the US Government has allocated 20.5billion USD for COVID-19 vaccine development as well as the US’s support forother countries.
He also highlighted the launch of the Mekong – US partnershipand announced the US’s over 150 million USD in additional funding for the fightagainst trans-national crimes on the Mekong River, including human and drugtrafficking, wildlife and natural resource trade
Acknowledging women’s strong role as peace creators and leaders, he affirmedthe US’s commitment to promoting Women, Peace and Global Security agenda, andstressed the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) forASEAN in developing the region’s action plan to realise the agenda./.
