Recognising the vital role that business plays in our economic relationship and the success of the inaugural U.S.-ASEAN Business Summit in Siem Reap in August 2012, we agreed to expand our commercial engagement by holding an annual U.S.-ASEAN Business Summit and holding a second ASEAN Economic Ministers Roadshow to the United States in 2013.

WHITEHOUSE: Joint Statement of the 4th ASEAN-U.S. Leaders' Meeting

The dichotomy has marked recent meetings, from the World Bank-International Monetary Fund sessions in Washington to the ASEAN economic ministers discussions in Manila and the World Economic Forum East Asia summit, which convened leading figures in business, government and academe in Singapore.

CNN: A NEW COURSE