Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2022

May 13, 2022

Well, thank you. [*Laughter*] My whole name. Thank you all very much. Good afternoon, everyone. I said last nightâlet me reiterateâit's been wonderful, wonderful to host you all in the first ever U.S.-ASEAN summit in Washington, DC.

And besides, President, the food wasn't bad. It was pretty good. [*Laughter*] We haven't hadâbeen able to have, essentially, state dinners in a long time because of COVID. But thank you all for being there.

We're not only celebrating 45 years of partnership and friendship between ASEAN and the United States, we're launching a new eraâa new eraâin U.S.-ASEAN relations.

Let me thank Prime Minister Hun Sen andâfor the 22âas the 2022 ASEAN Chair. And President Widodo, I want to thank you as wellâthe Country Coordinator for ASEAN and U.S. Dialogue Relationsâand for all the hard work to make this summit, I believeâI hope you believeâa success.

Over the past 2 days, we've spent time with members ofâyou've spent time with Members of Congress, the American business community. You just finished a good session with the Vice President. And you've met with a number of our Cabinet members. And I wanted you to be as exposed as you could and understand there's enthusiasmâthat it's not just at the President's level and the Vice President's level, but throughout the entire administrationâfor this relationship and bettering it.

You know, discussions have covered a broad range of critical issues, including working together to keep the fight against COVID under control and to take climate action. And by the way, I see Secretary Kerry down there. And, John, thanks for letting me into your old house. [*Laughter*] Appreciate it. John has forgotten aboutâmore about, in my view, the needs we have for climate security than anyone that I know. Thanks, John, for being here. I want to talk about that a little bit as we go into this hearingâin thisâthe rest of the day.

Discussions have covered a broad range of critical issues, including working together to keep up the fight against COVIDâ19; to take climate action and pursue a clean energy future; build a sustainable, high-standard infrastructure; and to expand access to education; enhance maritime cooperation. And the breadth of our discussions reflect just how vital the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN region are to the United States of America, from our perspective.

And a great deal of historyâthe great deal of history of our world in the next 50 years is going to be written and the ASEAN countries and our relationship with you is the future in the coming years and decades. The ASEAN centrality is the very heart of my administration's strategy in pursuing the future we all want to see. And I mean that sincerely.

The Indo-Pacific isâan Indo-Pacific that is free and open, stable and prosperous, and resilient and secure is what we're all seeking. And that's why I asked [Vice]* President Harris to travel to the region last August. And that's why, last October, at our virtual summit, I announced

$100 million to supportâfor programs to strengthen U.S.-ASEAN cooperation.

* White House correction.

And today I'm announcing another $150 million of initiatives to deepen U.S.-ASEAN relations and achieve moreâourâeven better our shared objectives from the Coast Guard to climate change, to modern infrastructure. There's a whole range of things that we have to work on.

And I'm also proud to announce that I have nominated one of my closest advisers to be U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN: Yohannes Abraham. I know you've already all seen him. But, Yohannes, you've got to come back once in a while and say hi to us.

Yohannes served as the Chief of Staff of the National Security Council since the first day of my administration. And so this is a fellow who I'm a little concerned to send in because he knows how I think. [*Laughter*] You know, I mean, he knows so much about me, I'm a little worried.

But all kidding aside, he isâI think you're going to find him completely knowledgeable, and he speaks forâwill speak for me and speak for my administration.

Yohannes isâI wish him luck. He's aâhe's the key reason why I think weâthis summit has been the success it has. I presume to believeâyou believe as I do: It has been a success thus far. And he'll be a trusted representative andâto continue deepening this critical partnership among all of us.

We're committed to a future where the rules and norms that have made possible so much growth and prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific are upheld and strengthened, including respect for the rule of law and for human rights.

This is something that benefits all 1 billion of the people who live in our countries, from the United States and all of you. And as we look around the worldâall the challenges we're facingâ the ASEAN-U.S. partnership is critical, I think, to meeting the moment we find ourselves in history right now.

And so let me thank you again for making the journey to Washington to celebrate the enduring friendship we share and to look ahead at all that I believeâwe all believeâwe can accomplish together and how much more we can do.

We'll continue to elevate this partnership and strengthen our cooperation and to make a better, safer, and more prosperous world for all our children.

So thank you, thank you. Thank you very much.

NOTE: The President spoke at 4:16 p.m. at the Department of State. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia; President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo of Indonesia; and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John F. Kerry, in his former capacity as Secretary of State.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United States special summit.

Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Abraham, Yohannes; Harris, Kamala D.; Hun Sen; Kerry, John F.; Widodo, Joko "Jokowi.

Subjects: Asia : Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); Cambodia : Prime Minister; Commerce, international : Asia-Pacific, regional trade promotion efforts; Coronavirus pandemic, international cooperation efforts; Environment : Climate change; Foreign policy, U.S : Civil and human rights, promotion efforts; Indonesia : President; State, Department of : Climate, Special Presidential Envoy for; White House Office : Vice President.

DCPD Number: DCPD202200396.