Admiral Samuel Locklear, Commander of the United States Pacific Command (Source: AFP)

(VOVworld) - The US has reaffirmed its commitment to deepen its practical cooperation with ASEAN on areas of mutual interest including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, according to the ASEAN Secretariat.

Admiral Samuel Locklear, Commander of the United States Pacific Command (US PACOM), made the statement on Friday when he visited the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. He said the US PACOM has the resources available to support and assist ASEAN, adding that the command has assigned personnel to assist the US Ambassador to ASEAN in Jakarta.
Admiral Locklear noted the US also stands ready to assist Myanmar in its capacity as the ASEAN Chair this year, and incoming Chair, Malaysia in 2015.
At the talks with Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political Security Community Nyan Lynn, Admiral Lockear announced preparations for the upcoming informal dialogue between ASEAN Defence Ministers and the US Secretary of Defence in Hawaii in early April this year.