US top diplomat Rubio in Malaysia on 1st trip to region for ASEAN summit

This marks Rubio's first visit to the region since he assumed office earlier this year, the state-run Bernama news agency reported.

It is the first time that Chinese and US top diplomats will attend the event together, but it remains to be seen whether they will meet.

Rubio is leading the US delegation at the ASEAN-led meetings.

The US began formal engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1977, a decade after its formation.

The relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership in 2015 and further upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022.