US State Secretary Blinken to Join ASEAN Talks in Laos

United States (US) Secretary of State Antony J Blinken is scheduled to visit Vietnam, Laos, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia on 24 July-3 August.

IDXChannel - United States (US) Secretary of State Antony J Blinken is scheduled to visit Vietnam, Laos, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia on 24 July-3 August.

"His 18th trip to the Indo-Pacific region since becoming Secretary," the US Department of State Spokesperson Matthews Miller said in a media release.

In Laos, Secretary Blinken will participate in the annual ASEAN-US Post Ministerial Conference, 14th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the 31st ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.  

"During each ministerial, the Secretary will emphasize the United States’ commitment to ASEAN centrality and support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which shares fundamental principles with the US Indo-Pacific Strategy," Miller said.

The Secretary will also discuss economic cooperation, the global fight against climate change, the ongoing crisis in Burma, the importance of adherence to international law in the South China Sea, and Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

"Secretary Blinken will reaffirm the importance of the work the United States does with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific to advancing security and prosperity and facilitating a shared vision for a free and open region," Miller said.

"The Secretary will further underscore the United States’ enduring commitment to deepening and expanding ties to unprecedented levels and creating mutually reinforcing relationships to tackle today’s greatest challenges," he said. (Wahyu Dwi Anggoro)