Successful, productive US-ASEAN Summit, says Najib

He said US-ASEAN relationship had an important role to play in contributing to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

"President Obama, in his closing remarks, thanked Kuala Lumpur as country coordinator for US-ASEAN relations," Najib told Malaysian journalists Tuesday (Wednesday in Malaysia) at the end of the two-day summit.

Najib had shared his thoughts on combating terrorism during discussions Tuesday on safeguarding peace, prosperity and security in the Asia Pacific by highlighting that ideological warfare was an important tool besides military action.

Substantiating his point on the issue, he said Malaysia would set up a regional counter-messaging centre to win the hearts and minds of the people so that they declined the Daish ideology.

Najib said the centre would counter Daish ideology, which went contrary to the true principles of Islam, as well as other wrongful narratives of Islam.

He said the centre would be the country’s contribution towards combating terrorism.

Citing Malaysia's seriousness in fighting terrorism, the Prime Minister said Malaysia would also come up with a Syariah Index soon in defining authentic Islamic principles and struggles as well as defining the true meaning of Islamic states.

Najib had also shared with the nine other ASEAN leaders and Obama his thoughts on the moderation approach, another important tool in combating terrorism.

Touching on climate change, he had called on developed countries to implement their pledged commitment on the Climate Change Fund and Green Fund in fighting global warming.

This is the fourth of the US-ASEAN summit series and the first after the United States and ASEAN elevated their relationship to strategic partnership at the ASEAN Summit and related summits in Kuala Lumpur last November.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Obama and the 10 ASEAN leaders issued a 17-point joint statement at the end of the summit highlighting, among others, their shared commitment to maintain peace, security and stability in the Southeast Asian region.

A strong resolve to lead in global issues pertaining to combating terrorism and violent extremism, trafficking in persons and drug trafficking were also contained in the joint statement.

After the Sunnylands summit, Najib headed to San Francisco to continue his week-long working visit to the United States.