WASHINGTON (Xinhua) – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Southeast Asia next month to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues with three nations.

According to a statement issued by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, the trip will take Mr Pompeo to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia from today to August 5.

In Kuala Lumpur, Mr Pompeo will stay till August 3 to meet senior Malaysian officials to discuss strengthening the bilateral comprehensive partnership and advancing common security and economic interests, following the country’s recent government transition.

Mr Pompeo will participate in the annual ASEAN-centered ministerial meetings in Singapore on August 3 and 4 to boost the US regional policy.

During his stay in Singapore, he will also attend the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit Ministerial, the US-ASEAN Ministerial, and the Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial to engage other foreign ministers on the region’s pressing security challenges, reinforce the US commitment to partnerships in the lower Mekong region, and reaffirm its dedication to the Southeast Asian region.

Mr Pompeo will meet with Singapore’s prime minister and foreign minister to discuss bilateral relationship, sign a renewal of a Third Country Training Program “which builds capacity across Southeast Asia,” and support Singapore’s role as current chair of ASEAN.

In Jakarta on August 4 and 5, Mr Pompeo is expected to reinforce the US – Indonesia strategic partnership as the two nations look ahead to celebrating 70 years of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2019.

There, he will also discuss advancing the mutually shared security and bilateral trades and investment goals, and affirm ASEAN centrality in regional issues, said the US State Department.

• Tags: Heather Nauert, Malaysia, Mike Pompeo, Southeast Asia, US