Biden hosts Asean leaders at White House, announces US$150 million of programmes

Biden (centre) posing for a group photo with Asean leaders (from second left) Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia President Joko Widodo, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Laos Prime Minister Dr Phankham Viphavanh and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. On far left and right respectively are Asean Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr - Bernama

WASHINGTON (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): The United States stepped up its courtship of Asean on Thursday (May 12), as President Joe Biden welcomed leaders of the South-East Asian grouping to the White House and announced more than US$150 million (S$209 million) of programmes with the regional bloc.

The sum will go towards programmes for clean energy, maritime security, education and public health, the White House said in a fact sheet released at the start of a two-day summit to mark 45 years of ties between America and Asean.