Obama to host meeting with ASEAN leaders in late September

U.S. President Barack Obama will host a meeting with leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in New York City on Sept. 24, the White House said in a statement on Friday.

Leaders of ten ASEAN member states as well as ASEAN's secretary general have been invited, according to the statement.

The White House said issues to be discussed include trade and investment, regional security, disaster management, food and energy security and climate change.

Since it took office, the Obama administration has vowed to significantly strengthen engagement in Southeast Asia and fill the vacuum left by his predecessor, who some believe had ignored the region.

Source:Xinhua