REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CALIFORNIA -- United States President Barack Obama said the US-ASEAN trade volume has increased 55 percent since he took office in January 2009.

"Since I assumed office, we've boosted trade between the United States and ASEAN by 55 percent," President Obama told the Opening Session of the US-ASEAN Summit at Sunnylands Center, Rancho Mirage, California, on Monday (Feb 15).

President Obama said together, US-ASEAN can increase their trade and economic partnership further, thus creating more jobs and offering better opportunities to the people.

Obama added that the region is now the US' fourth largest goods trading partner, including US exports that support more than 500,000 American jobs.

"The US companies have been the largest source of foreign investment in ASEAN, one of the many reasons the region's GDP has surged in recent years, lifting people from poverty into the middle class," Obama said in his remarks.

Obama also took the opportunity to meet ASEAN heads of states/governments, congratulating the ASEAN single community formation which is considered to be an important step towards integrating the regional economy.

The US president also said at the meeting that US-ASEAN can build on this progress and do more to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation so that it leads to sustainable and inclusive growth and development and is beneficial for the masses.

"Together, we can also continue to increase our security cooperation to meet common challenges," Obama said.

In recent years, Obama added, the United States has increased its maritime security assistance to its allies and partners in the region, improving mutual capabilities to protect lawful commerce and to respond to humanitarian crisis.

During the meeting, Obama also expressed the hope to push for a shared vision of a regional order where international rules and norms, including freedom of navigation, are upheld, and where disputes are resolved through peaceful, legal means.

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