ASEAN and the US have set May 12-13 for their Special Summit to be held in Washington, DC, to commemorate 45 years of relations and dialogue partnership, according to a press statement released by the ASEAN Chair, Cambodia, late on April 16.

If held as planned, this will be the second such Special Summit since 2016 and the first in-person meeting between their leaders since 2017.

According to the press release, ASEAN leaders and US President Joe Biden will discuss ways to boost cooperation in, among others, Covid-19 response and global health security, the climate change fight, sustainable development, maritime collaboration, human capital development, education and people-to-people ties, as well as connectivity and economic engagement.

The leaders will also discuss other regional and international issues of common interest and concern.

They are also expected to chart the future direction of ASEAN-US relations and seek to strengthen their strategic partnership for the mutual benefits of their peoples.

"The Special Summit will also reiterate our shared commitment to uphold ASEAN Centrality and unity through the existing ASEAN-led mechanisms, as well as to foster mutual trust and confidence to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region," the press statement underlined.