A platform for high-level discussions on critical issues shaping the future of U.S.-ASEAN relations. Bringing together government officials, diplomats, researchers and policy experts, these dialogues explore key challenges and opportunities in priority policy areas for the US and ASEAN.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center hosted Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia and ASEAN Affairs Hunt VanderToll for a closed-door roundtable on key takeaways from the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-59), the Post Ministerial Conference, and the ASEAN Regional Forum. The session brought together experts from the private sector, think tanks, research institutions, and academia to discuss regional trends, U.S. engagement with ASEAN, and key signposts to watch in the months ahead.
Deputy Assistant Secretary VanderToll shared key highlights and themes from AMM-59, including Secretary of State Rubio’s reaffirmation of U.S. commitments to the region across economic and security priorities. Recent announcements include a US$2.5 billion investment package supporting energy and strategic infrastructure, emerging technologies, and regional development, alongside continued efforts to support allies and partners in safeguarding sovereignty, strengthening maritime domain awareness, and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the South China Sea. Other priorities include addressing transnational threats such as scams and cybercrime and supporting regional peace and stability.
The 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting Debrief
August 7, 2026
Philippines ASEAN Chairship 2026
June 22, 2026
U.S.-ASEAN Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting in Jakarta
May 18, 2026
U.S.-ASEAN Spring Reception
April 2026
Meeting with Hanoi and Vietnam Government Leaders
February 19, 2026
The U.S.-ASEAN Center, in partnership with the Embassy of the Philippines in the United States and the U.S.-Philippines Society, convened "Philippines ASEAN Chairship 2026: Advancing Regional Resilience and U.S.-ASEAN Collaboration" in Washington, D.C. The event brought together nearly 100 diplomats, leaders and experts from government, industry, and academia to discuss the Philippines' priorities for its 2026 ASEAN Chairship under the theme "People, Peace, and Prosperity."
Participants explored opportunities to strengthen U.S.-ASEAN cooperation across key areas, including digital transformation, emerging technologies, maritime security, and resilient supply chains.
The Center was honored to welcome keynote remarks from:
Mimi Wang, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director of the Office of Southeast Asia at the U.S. Department of State.
Their remarks highlighted the enduring importance of the U.S.-ASEAN partnership and reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, strengthening regional resilience, and promoting mutual prosperity.
The program concluded with closing remarks from:
Hank Hendrickson, Executive Director of the U.S.-Philippines Society
Panel discussions featured distinguished representatives from:
Amkor Technology.
Speakers shared insights on fostering regional cooperation, innovation, and public-private partnerships to support ASEAN's continued growth and resilience under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship.
ASEAN Summit Debrief with Assistant Secretary Michael George DeSombre
November 20, 2025
Philippines BOI Delegation Visit
October 28, 2025
Small Enterprises Big Targets: Cybersecurity and Asia's Economic Backbone
October 14, 2025
Dialogue Among ASEAN Plus One Centers in Osaka
September 25, 2025
U.S.-ASEAN Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting in Jakarta
May 5–9, 2025
Dialogue on Economic Diplomacy
April 29, 2025
The U.S.-ASEAN Center participated in the U.S.-ASEAN Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. Director Anh Hoang briefed the ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representatives on the Center’s 2025–2026 programs, partnerships, and strategic initiatives supporting stronger U.S.-ASEAN relations.
Over the past year, the Center convened more than 1,100 participants through 25+ high-level programs, policy dialogues, and regional engagements involving U.S. and ASEAN government officials, the ASEAN Secretariat, private-sector leaders, universities, think tanks, and emerging leaders. These activities advanced cooperation in cybersecurity and emerging technologies, maritime security, STEM education and workforce development, economic diplomacy and public-private partnerships, cultural heritage protection, and people-to-people ties. The engagement underscored the Center’s role in fostering trusted partnerships, strengthening regional resilience, and advancing U.S.-ASEAN cooperation.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center hosted its Spring Reception alongside the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings, bringing together a distinguished group of leaders and stakeholders committed to strengthening ties between the United States and Southeast Asia.
The Center was honored to welcome Deputy Assistant Secretary Hunt VanderToll and His Excellency Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States, who delivered keynote remarks. Their messages underscored the enduring importance of U.S.-ASEAN relations and highlighted the Philippines’ chairship of ASEAN this year.
The reception convened representatives from the U.S. government, ASEAN embassies, the private sector, and leading voices from academia and policy institutions across Washington, DC and Southeast Asia, fostering dialogue and collaboration across sectors. The event recognized and celebrated the achievements of 14 outstanding ASEAN Fulbright Scholars, whose research is advancing U.S.-ASEAN engagement and offering innovative approaches to shared regional and global challenges.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center at Arizona State University met with the Secretary of Hanoi People’s Committee and Deputy Minister of Science and Technology on the sidelines of the Board of Peace Summit in Washington D.C. to discuss collaboration with the city of Hanoi in training the workforce for Vietnam on semiconductor and microelectronics education and support the country’s roadmap to advance research and talent development.
The meeting also explored the possibility to build a greenfield university in Hanoi’s Hoa Lac Hi-Tech park to provide world-class education and establish Center of Excellence in the City’s Innovation Zone.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center organized an ASEAN Summit Debrief discussion with Assistant Secretary Michael George DeSombre, Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State. The dialogue provided a summary on the outcome of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and an outlook on U.S. foreign policy in the region.
The event was attended by ASEAN-focused corporate executives, policy practitioners, and academic experts. The Assistant Secretary shared insightful perspectives on regional cooperation, and U.S. priorities in working with ASEAN partners for a shared future of peace, prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center at ASU welcomed a delegation from the Board of Investments of the Philippines. During their visit, the U.S.-ASEAN Center shared an overview of the Center’s programs and initiatives that foster collaboration across Southeast Asia. The discussion explored potential areas for educational partnership between ASU and the Philippines, including curriculum development, technical programs, associate degrees, micro-credentials, as well as joint research and development opportunities.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center, in partnership with The Asia Foundation, hosted “Small Enterprises, Big Targets: Cybersecurity and Asia’s Economic Backbone.” Featuring Anthea Mulakala, Senior Director for International Development Cooperation and the APAC Cyber Security Fund, the discussion shared lessons from the APAC Cybersecurity Fund supported by Google.org, highlighting early success in equipping MSMEs with the tools to detect and counter cyber threats.
The dialogue emphasized that MSME cyber resilience is critical to regional stability and global supply chains. Moderated by Director Anh Hoang of the U.S.-ASEAN Center, the discussion brought together representatives from ASEAN Embassies, private sector, and international development organizations, reflecting the importance of multi-sector collaboration in enhancing regional cybersecurity for digital economy growth and resilience.
Director Anh Hoang represented U.S.-ASEAN Center at the 2025 Dialogue Among ASEAN Plus One Centers, hosted by the ASEAN-Japan Centre at the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Commencing the dialogue, ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn delivered a video message highlighting ASEAN’s priorities for collaboration with dialogue partners and commending the ASEAN Plus One Centers for their role in fostering cross-border cooperation and strengthening people-to-people ties. The Dialogue convened five ASEAN Centers across the Indo-Pacific region including U.S.-ASEAN Center, ASEAN-Japan Center, ASEAN-Korea Center, ASEAN-India Center and ASEAN-Australia Center. Throughout the dialogue, Centers exchanged best practices and innovative ideas on digitalization and the future of work, SMEs and economic resilience, and people-to-people connections. Discussions also looked ahead to ASEAN’s 60th anniversary in 2027 during Singapore’s chairmanship, exploring opportunities for collaboration with the ASEAN Member States and The ASEAN Secretariat to mark this milestone.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center Director Anh Hoang visited Jakarta to participate in the U.S.-ASEAN Joint Cooperation Committee meeting on May 9. At the meeting, Director Hoang briefed participants on the Center’s activities and strategic initiatives to advance U.S.-ASEAN relations in areas such as economic and technological cooperation and people-to-people engagement.
During the visit, Director Hoang met with Ambassador Heng Sarith, Cambodia’s Permanent Representative to ASEAN and current Country Coordinator for the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, to discuss ongoing collaboration. She also held discussions with ASEAN Secretariat bodies—including the ASEAN Foundation, the ASEAN Economic Community, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community—on potential joint efforts to further strengthen ties.
In addition, Director Hoang engaged with representatives from ASEAN Dialogue Partner Centers (Japan, Republic of Korea, and Australia) to exchange information, share best practices, and raise awareness of the U.S.-ASEAN Center’s work. She also met with representatives U.S. Universities - Georgetown University and Arizona State University’s Indonesia programs to explore opportunities to deepen U.S.-ASEAN education cooperation and build a stronger alumni network across the region.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center, in partnership with the U.S.-ASEAN Young Professionals Association, hosted a panel discussion on economic diplomacy in the U.S.-ASEAN and international affairs context. The event featured distinguished speakers from government, business, and policy sectors.
Moderated by:
Phimmasone Michael Rattanasengchanh, ASEAN Co-Chair of the Young Professionals Association
Panelists included:
Eric Starr (UltraPass ID)
They shared perspectives on how the U.S. and ASEAN can leverage economic diplomacy to deepen cooperation, build trust, and address pressing global challenges. The conversation offered timely insights into navigating an increasingly complex economic and geopolitical landscape.
EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary Andrew Herrup delivered remarks at the U.S.-ASEAN Center on the recent ASEAN Summits to an audience of think tankers, students, and members of the diplomatic community.
After his remarks, Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Herrup and Ambassador (ret.) Campbell held a discussion with the audience on the ASEAN-U.S. relationship.
Topics included the benefits of ASEAN for the American people, strategies to counter cyber- scam operations, and the development of ASEAN’s digital economy.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn inaugurated the quarterly speaker series at the U.S.-ASEAN Center.
Dr. Kao spoke about the “ASEAN-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP): Partners for Peace, Prosperity, and People".
After delivering remarks, Dr. Kao and U.S. Ambassador (ret.) Piper Campbell moderated a discussion about the breadth and depth of the CSP relationship and took questions from a hybrid audience.
Further Reading
ASU News | June 24, 2024
ASEAN secretary-general visits ASU center in Washington, DC
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