JAKARTA: Malaysia and the United States should boost people-to-people linkages through various initiatives including volunteerism, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said with regard to people-to-people linkages, there were a large number of Malaysian students in the US, and Malaysia would continue to support this venture.
"We believe that one of the initiatives is volunteerism to connect our citizens to promote greater understanding and acceptance between one another," said Anwar at the 11th Asean-US Summit held in conjunction with the 43rd Asean Summit and other related summits here on Wednesday (Sept 6).
Anwar also noted that Malaysia welcomed the establishment of the Asean-US Centre.
Earlier, US Vice-President Kamala Harris announced the establishment of a new US-Asean centre in Washington DC.
She also said the US would continue to press strife-torn Myanmar to foster a path to democracy.
While Harris had been to the region several times since assuming office, this was her first visit to Indonesia.
Anwar said that deeper economic cooperation through trade, investment framework agreement as well as expanded economic engagement was also needed between Malaysia and the US.
