(VOVworld)- The US State Department’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific Scot Marciel said at a seminar in Jakarta recently that the US viewed ASEAN as a focus in its foreign policy.  He underlined the US’ commitment to further cooperation with ASEAN member nations by stepping up infrastructure development and providing technical and financial assistance for fighting poverty and improving education, health care, connectivity, integration, and people-to-people relations. Marciel, a former US Ambassador to Indonesia from 2010 to 2013, also reiterated the commitment made by US President Barack Obama to strengthening ties with Indonesia during a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the recent ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.