The ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced Partnership

President George W. Bush and other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched the ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced Partnership through a Joint Vision Statement in November 2005.

A Multi-Sector Endeavor

The Enhanced Partnership will foster cooperation among all sectors of society, state, provincial and local government, non-governmental organizations, business, educational institutions and individual citizens. It will help the United States and ASEAN meet the challenges and reap the benefits of an increasingly globalized world.

Enhanced Partnership Components

• Political and Security Cooperation to support ASEAN’s goals of a just, democratic and harmonious political environment.
• Economic Cooperation, including support for the "Enterprise for ASEAN" Initiative, launched at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in 2002.
• Social and Educational Cooperation, including promoting people-to-people linkages between ASEAN and the United States.

Municipal officials from Cambodia and
Vietnam observe clean water testing in
a New Hampshire laboratory under a
recent U.S.-ASEAN project funded by USAID.

Joint Projects

The United States and ASEAN have planned initial ventures that illustrate the possibilities for mutually beneficial cooperation under the Enhanced Partnership:

 • The U.S. and the Government of Brunei Darussalam will contribute a total of $3 million and work together with the people of Desa Mon Mata, Aceh, Indonesia to rebuild their village that was destroyed by the December 2004 tsunami. This joint project will rebuild houses, a school, a clinic, and related infrastructure.

 • Artistic and Cultural Cooperation, including expanded partnerships between arts agencies of U.S. state governments and ASEAN partners to promote collaboration in film, music, and other fields.

 • The ASEAN-U.S. Research Scholarship will be open to academics and to Foreign Ministry officials. It will give scholars and professionals an opportunity to work in the U.S. for three to six months on a topic linked to the ASEAN-U.S. relationship. Up to nine scholarships will be available each year, beginning in 2007.

 • The Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) is expected to be concluded soon. The TIFA will increase trade and investment between ASEAN and the United States and will support ASEAN integration and trade capacity building.

 • ASEAN and the United States will develop a Science and Technology Agreement to expand relations and collaboration between their science and technology communities.

U.S. Contributions

The Enhanced Partnership builds on cooperation developed since 1977. Since then, the U.S. has provided over $75.4 million to support scholarships, training and other programs in agriculture, health, the environment and many other fields.

The ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced Partnership in Action:
Joint U.S.-Brunei Reconstruction Project in Aceh, Indonesia

The United States and the Government of Brunei Darussalam will work together to help rebuild a village in Aceh, Indonesia, as part of the ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced Partnership. The houses and community buildings in the west coast village of Desa Mon Mata were destroyed by the December 2004 tsunami. As a safety precaution, the families from Mon Mata have chosen to relocate to a plot of land at a higher elevation near their original village.

Project Goals

This joint project will rebuild houses, a school, a clinic, and related infrastructure. Led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Embassy of Brunei in Jakarta, a scoping mission identified the potential project site. USAID and Bruneian representatives will finalize the technical requirements and budget estimate for the project, and jointly develop implementation plans.

View of temporary housing before reconstruction. State Dept. photo

Community Approach

Rebuilding will be based on a community-driven approach. U.S. and Bruneian partners will work closely with community leaders to develop village maps and spatial plans. Community leaders and local government officials will oversee final details.

Funding

The United States will provide about $1 million to fund the nearly $3 million project, which will serve as an important initial venture of the Enhanced Partnership.

The ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced Partnership will provide development opportunities in the political and security, economic, and socio-cultural fields throughout Southeast Asia. The Partnership aims to help deepen ties between the United States and ASEAN countries in all fields of cooperation.

New construction under way. State Dept. photo.