VietNamNet Bridge – A “selfie” photo featuring Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, his Vietnamese, Cambodia counterparts and the Foreign Minister of Laos at the US-ASEAN Summit at Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage, California was posted on the Facebook page of the Singaporean PM on February 17.

The photo of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Lao Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. (Photo: Facebook)

Only about two hours after it was posted, the photo had over 22,000 likes and the number of “thumbs up” increased rapidly.

Notably, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong used the full Vietnamese name when he mentioned Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung - a move that is widely regarded by netizens as respect for his Vietnamese counterpart.

This is just one of many photos posted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on his personal Facebook along with updated information about the special summit between the US and ASEAN. This is the first US-ASEAN summit hosted by the US at Sunnylands center and gardens in California.

After the two-day meeting, the US-ASEAN leaders issued a joint statement, which refers to the support of settlement of maritime disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means.

In his closing remarks, President Barack Obama urged that acts of reef renovation, construction and militarization in the seas in Asia be stopped. He was referring to China’s promotion of illegal construction activities of runways and ports in the East Sea, which can be used for military purposes. Obama also called parties to take "practical steps" to cool tensions in the East Sea.

Reaffirming commitment to security in the region, Obama said that America will continue to operate at sea, in the air, anywhere that international law allows and the US will support its allies to implement similar rights.

Tran Cham