United States (FN), Feb. 16 — At the U.S.-ASEAN summit, during the discussions on South China Sea dispute, at around 2:00AM, Feb 16, 2016 (U.S time zone), U.S. President Barak Obama requested that all ASEAN countries refrain from carrying out activities of concern in relation to the South China Sea disputes.

Without the presence of China, during the meeting, the United States, Vietnam and the Philippines all raised the issues of concern in relation to China’s activities in the South China Sea. The other hot security issue brought up by President Obama to the discussion was the Korean issue.

Apart from the security issues, President Obama took the opportunity to introduce three successful American business leaders to give a presentation to all the ASEAN leaders on economic potential and how ASEAN economic development can move faster. The U.S. President also talked about education issues and human resources.

In his opening remarks for the U.S.-ASEAN summit, President Obama said that his knowledge of and affection for the people and beauty of Southeast Asia started since he was a young man, when he was living in Indonesia with his mother for many years.

Until recently, President Obama had officially visited ASEAN for seven times already, which is more often than any of the previous U.S. presidents, he said. The last meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, laid the groundwork for the establishment of a new strategic partnership, he added.

“As the U.S. President, I have the opportunity to visit most countries in your region. You and the ASEAN people have always demonstrated to be exceptionally gracious and I hope that in return I could provide you a warmest hospitality for today as well as in the future. It is for this reason I choose not to hold the summit in Washington D.C., because it is very cold. It is snowing now in Washington D.C., and I therefore would like to welcome you instead to this beautiful city of Sunnylands, California, which is much warm,” Obama said in his opening remark.

The U.S.-ASEAN summit will continue for one more day on Feb. 16, 2016, the U.S. time.
=FRESH NEWS