Obama Southeast Asia leaders eye China and trade at California summit
Date
2/15/2016 11:13:07 PM
(MENAFN- Asia Times) U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the Illinois General Assembly during a visit to Springfield Ill. on Feb. 10
Obama will also discuss efforts to curb North Korea and to fight Islamic State militants during the two-day meeting with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at Sunnylands a California resort.
The meeting at the same location where Obama once hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping is designed to demonstrate Washington’s commitment both as a counterweight to Beijing and as an eager trading partner with ASEAN nations.
It also helps cement a legacy issue for Obama who has championed a trade and foreign policy pivot to Asia during his presidency and is determined to present the United States as a Pacific power.
“We want to make very clear that the United States is going to be at the table and a part of setting the agenda in the Asia- Pacific in the decades to come” White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters last week.
Goals of the two-day gathering include increasing commercial ties which will be underscored by the presence of a handful of U.S. corporate executives; cooperating on counter-terrorism; and setting principles for maritime security in the region the White House said. Read more
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