Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Emblem represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN. The colours of the Emblem blue, red, white and yellow represent the main colours of the state crests of all the ASEAN Member States.
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Quick Facts
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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Its aims include accelerating economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, protection of regional peace and stability, and opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully.
ASEAN covers a land area of 4.46 million km², which is 3% of the total land area of Earth, and has a population of approximately 600 million people, which is 8.8% of the world's population. The sea area of ASEAN is about three times larger than its land counterpart. In 2010, its combined nominal GDP had grown to US$1.8 trillion. If ASEAN were a single entity, it would rank as the ninth largest economy in the world.
ASEAN covers a land area of 4.46 million km², which is 3% of the total land area of Earth, and has a population of approximately 600 million people, which is 8.8% of the world's population. The sea area of ASEAN is about three times larger than its land counterpart. In 2010, its combined nominal GDP had grown to US$1.8 trillion. If ASEAN were a single entity, it would rank as the ninth largest economy in the world.
History of ASEAN
The flags of 10 ASEAN members.
ASEAN was preceded by an organisation called the Association of Southeast Asia, commonly called ASA, an alliance consisting of the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand that was formed in 1961. The bloc itself, however, was established on 8 August 1967, when foreign ministers of five countries Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand met at the Thai Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok and signed the ASEAN Declaration, more commonly known as the Bangkok Declaration. The five foreign ministers Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso Ramos of the Philippines, Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand are considered the organisation's Founding Fathers.
The motivations for the birth of ASEAN were so that its members’ governing elite could concentrate on nation building, the common fear of communism, reduced faith in or mistrust of external powers in the 1960s, and a desire for economic development; not to mention Indonesia’s ambition to become a regional hegemon through regional cooperation and the hope on the part of Malaysia and Singapore to constrain Indonesia and bring it into a more cooperative framework.
Papua New Guinea was accorded Observer status in 1976 and Special Observer status in 1981. Papua New Guinea is a Melanesian state. ASEAN embarked on a program of economic cooperation following the Bali Summit of 1976. This floundered in the mid-1980s and was only revived around 1991 due to a Thai proposal for a regional free trade area. The bloc grew when Brunei Darussalam became the sixth member on 8 January 1984, barely a week after gaining independence on 1 January.
On 28 July 1995, Vietnam became the seventh member. Laos and Myanmar (Burma) joined two years later on 23 July 1997. Cambodia was to have joined together with Laos and Burma, but was deferred due to the country's internal political struggle. The country later joined on 30 April 1999, following the stabilisation of its government.
During the 1990s, the bloc experienced an increase in both membership and drive for further integration. In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of an East Asia Economic Caucus comprising the then members of ASEAN as well as the People's Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea, with the intention of counterbalancing the growing influence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and in the Asian region as a whole. This proposal failed, however, because of heavy opposition from the United States and Japan. Despite this failure, member states continued to work for further integration and ASEAN Plus Three was created in 1997.
In 1992, the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme was signed as a schedule for phasing tariffs and as a goal to increase the region’s competitive advantage as a production base geared for the world market. This law would act as the framework for the ASEAN Free Trade Area. After the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, a revival of the Malaysian proposal was established in Chiang Mai, known as the Chiang Mai Initiative, which calls for better integration between the economies of ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Plus Three countries (China, Japan, and South Korea).
Aside from improving each member state's economies, the bloc also focused on peace and stability in the region. On 15 December 1995, the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty was signed with the intention of turning Southeast Asia into a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. The treaty took effect on 28 March 1997 after all but one of the member states have ratified it. It became fully effective on 21 June 2001, after the Philippines ratified it, effectively banning all nuclear weapons in the region.
The motivations for the birth of ASEAN were so that its members’ governing elite could concentrate on nation building, the common fear of communism, reduced faith in or mistrust of external powers in the 1960s, and a desire for economic development; not to mention Indonesia’s ambition to become a regional hegemon through regional cooperation and the hope on the part of Malaysia and Singapore to constrain Indonesia and bring it into a more cooperative framework.
Papua New Guinea was accorded Observer status in 1976 and Special Observer status in 1981. Papua New Guinea is a Melanesian state. ASEAN embarked on a program of economic cooperation following the Bali Summit of 1976. This floundered in the mid-1980s and was only revived around 1991 due to a Thai proposal for a regional free trade area. The bloc grew when Brunei Darussalam became the sixth member on 8 January 1984, barely a week after gaining independence on 1 January.
On 28 July 1995, Vietnam became the seventh member. Laos and Myanmar (Burma) joined two years later on 23 July 1997. Cambodia was to have joined together with Laos and Burma, but was deferred due to the country's internal political struggle. The country later joined on 30 April 1999, following the stabilisation of its government.
During the 1990s, the bloc experienced an increase in both membership and drive for further integration. In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of an East Asia Economic Caucus comprising the then members of ASEAN as well as the People's Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea, with the intention of counterbalancing the growing influence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and in the Asian region as a whole. This proposal failed, however, because of heavy opposition from the United States and Japan. Despite this failure, member states continued to work for further integration and ASEAN Plus Three was created in 1997.
In 1992, the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme was signed as a schedule for phasing tariffs and as a goal to increase the region’s competitive advantage as a production base geared for the world market. This law would act as the framework for the ASEAN Free Trade Area. After the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, a revival of the Malaysian proposal was established in Chiang Mai, known as the Chiang Mai Initiative, which calls for better integration between the economies of ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Plus Three countries (China, Japan, and South Korea).
Aside from improving each member state's economies, the bloc also focused on peace and stability in the region. On 15 December 1995, the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty was signed with the intention of turning Southeast Asia into a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. The treaty took effect on 28 March 1997 after all but one of the member states have ratified it. It became fully effective on 21 June 2001, after the Philippines ratified it, effectively banning all nuclear weapons in the region.
ASEAN Charter
The ASEAN Charter is a constitution for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It was adopted at the 13th ASEAN Summit in November 2007.
The intention to draft the constitution had been formally tabled at the 11th ASEAN Summit held in December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ten ASEAN leaders, one each from each member state, called the ASEAN Eminent Persons Group were assigned to produce recommendations of the drafting of the charter.
In the 12th ASEAN Summit held in January 2007 in Cebu, the Philippines, several basic proposals were made public. The ASEAN Leaders, therefore, agreed during the Summit to set up a "High level task force on the drafting of the ASEAN Charter" composed of 10 high level government officials from ten member countries.
The task force then held 13 meetings during 2007. Some of the proposals include the removal of non-interference policy that is central to the regional group since its formation in the 1960s, and to set up a human rights body.
Principles set out in the charter include:
The intention to draft the constitution had been formally tabled at the 11th ASEAN Summit held in December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ten ASEAN leaders, one each from each member state, called the ASEAN Eminent Persons Group were assigned to produce recommendations of the drafting of the charter.
In the 12th ASEAN Summit held in January 2007 in Cebu, the Philippines, several basic proposals were made public. The ASEAN Leaders, therefore, agreed during the Summit to set up a "High level task force on the drafting of the ASEAN Charter" composed of 10 high level government officials from ten member countries.
The task force then held 13 meetings during 2007. Some of the proposals include the removal of non-interference policy that is central to the regional group since its formation in the 1960s, and to set up a human rights body.
Principles set out in the charter include:
- Emphasising the centrality of ASEAN in regional cooperation.
- Respect for the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, non-interference and national identities of ASEAN members.
- Promoting regional peace and identity, peaceful settlements of disputes through dialogue and consultation, and the renunciation of aggression.
- Upholding international law with respect to human rights, social justice and multilateral trade.
- Encouraging regional integration of trade.
- Appointment of a Secretary-General and Permanent Representatives of ASEAN.
- Establishment of a human rights body and an unresolved dispute mechanism, to be decided at ASEAN Summits.
- Development of friendly external relations and a position with the UN (like the EU)
- Increasing the number of ASEAN summits to twice a year and the ability to convene for emergency situations.
- Reiterating the use of the ASEAN flag, anthem, emblem and national ASEAN day on August 8.
Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Full members Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam
ASEAN Summit
The ASEAN Summit is an annual meeting held by the member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in relation to economic, and cultural development of Southeast Asian countries.
The league of ASEAN is currently connected with other countries who aimed to participate on the missions and visions of the league. Apparently, the league is conducting an annual meetings with other countries in an organization collectively known as the ASEAN dialogue partners. ASEAN +3 adds China, Japan and South Korea. The formal summit are held in three days. The usual itinerary are as follows:
ASEAN leaders hold an internal organization meeting.
ASEAN leaders hold a conference together with foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Leaders of 3 ASEAN Dialogue Partners (also known as ASEAN+3) namely China, Japan and South Korea hold a meeting with the ASEAN leaders.
And a separate meeting is set for leaders of 2 ASEAN Dialogue Partners (also known as ASEAN+CER) namely Australia and New Zealand.
The league of ASEAN is currently connected with other countries who aimed to participate on the missions and visions of the league. Apparently, the league is conducting an annual meetings with other countries in an organization collectively known as the ASEAN dialogue partners. ASEAN +3 adds China, Japan and South Korea. The formal summit are held in three days. The usual itinerary are as follows:
ASEAN leaders hold an internal organization meeting.
ASEAN leaders hold a conference together with foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Leaders of 3 ASEAN Dialogue Partners (also known as ASEAN+3) namely China, Japan and South Korea hold a meeting with the ASEAN leaders.
And a separate meeting is set for leaders of 2 ASEAN Dialogue Partners (also known as ASEAN+CER) namely Australia and New Zealand.
ASEAN Summits
- Twenty–seventh ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 18-22 Nov 2015
- Twenty-sixth ASEAN Summit, Langkawi, Malaysia, 26‒27 Apr 2015
- Twenty-five four ASEAN Summit, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 10–12 Nov 2014
- Twenty-four ASEAN Summit, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 10–11 May 2014
- Twenty-three ASEAN Summit, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, 9–10 Oct 2013
- Twenty-two ASEAN Summit, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, 24–25 Apr 2013
- Twenty-one ASEAN Summit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 17–20 Nov 2012
- Twenty ASEAN Summit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 3–4 Apr 2012
- Nineteenth ASEAN Summit, Bali, Indonesia, 14-19 November 2011
- Eighteenth ASEAN Summit, Jakarta, 7-8 May 2011
- Seventeenth ASEAN Summit, Ha Noi, 28-30 October 2010
- Sixteenth ASEAN Summit, Ha Noi, 8-9 April 2010
- Fifteenth ASEAN Summit, Cha-Am Hua Hin, Thailand, 23-25 October 2009
- Fourteenth ASEAN Summit, Cha-am, Thailand, 26 February - 1 March 2009
- Thirteenth ASEAN Summit, Singapore, 18-22 November 2007
- Twelfth ASEAN Summit, Cebu, Phillipines, 9-15 January 2007
- Eleventh ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 December 2005
- Tenth ASEAN Summit, Vientiane, 29-30 November 2004
- Ninth ASEAN Summit, Bali, 7-8 October 2003
- Eighth ASEAN Summit, Phnom Penh, 4-5 November 2002
- Seventh ASEAN Summit, Bandar Seri Begawan, 5-6 November 2001
- Fourth Informal Summit, Singapore, 22-25 November 2000
- Third Informal Summit, Manila, 27-28 November 1999
- Sixth ASEAN Summit, Ha Noi, 15-16 December 1998
- Second Informal Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 14-16 December 1997
- First Informal Summit, Jakarta, 30 November 1996
- Fifth ASEAN Summit, Bangkok, 14-15 December 1995
- Fourth ASEAN Summit, Singapore, 27-29 January 1992
- Third ASEAN Summit, Manila, 14-15 December 1987
- Second ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 4-5 August 1977
- First ASEAN Summit, Bali, 23-24 February 1976
East Asia Summit
The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a pan-Asian forum held annually by the leaders of 16 countries in East Asia and the region, with ASEAN in a leadership position. The summit has discussed issues including trade, energy and security and the summit has a role in regional community building.
The members of the summit are all 10 members of ASEAN plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. These nations represent nearly half of the world's population. In October 2010, Russia and the United States were formally invited to participate as full members, with presidents of both countries to attend the 2011 summit.
The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur on 14 December 2005 and subsequent meetings have been held after the annual ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting.
The members of the summit are all 10 members of ASEAN plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. These nations represent nearly half of the world's population. In October 2010, Russia and the United States were formally invited to participate as full members, with presidents of both countries to attend the 2011 summit.
The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur on 14 December 2005 and subsequent meetings have been held after the annual ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting.
ASEAN Plus Three (APT)
ASEAN Plus Three (APT) is a forum that functions as a coordinator of cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the three East Asian nations of China, Japan, and South Korea.The first leaders' meeting was held in 1997 and the group's significance and importance was strengthened by the Asian Financial Crisis. The grouping was institutionalised by 1999.
ASEAN Secretariat
Secretariat of ASEAN
The ASEAN Secretariat was set up in February 1976 by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN. It was then housed at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia in Jakarta. The existing ASEAN Secretariat at 70A Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Jakarta was established and officiated in 1981 by the then President of Indonesia, H.E. Soeharto.
The Secretary-General of ASEAN is appointed by the ASEAN Summit for a non-renewable term of office of five years, selected from among nationals of the ASEAN Member States based on alphabetical rotation. The Secretary-General of ASEAN.
The Secretary-General of ASEAN is appointed by the ASEAN Summit for a non-renewable term of office of five years, selected from among nationals of the ASEAN Member States based on alphabetical rotation. The Secretary-General of ASEAN.
Following are the list of Secretary generals of ASEAN from newer to oldest.
LÊ LƯƠNG MINH, Vietnam, 1 January 2013 – 31 December 2017
DR SURIN PITSUWAN, Thailand, 2008-2012
ONG KENG YONG, Singapore, 1 Jan 2003 to 31 Dec 2007
RODOLFO C. SEVERINO JR, The Philippines, 1 Jan 1998 to 31 Dec 2002
DATO AJIT SINGH, Malaysia, 1 Jan 1993 to 31 Dec 1997
RUSLI NOOR, Indonesia, 17 July 1989 to 1 Jan 1993
RODERICK YONG, Brunei Darussalam, 16 July 1986 to 16 July 1989
PHAN WANNAMETHEE, Thailand, 16 July 1984 to 15 July 1986
CHAN KAI YAU, Singapore, 18 July 1982 to 15 July 1984
NARCISO G. REYES, The Philippines, 1 July 1980 to 1 July 1982
DATUK ALI BIN ABDULLAH, Malaysia, 10 July 1978 to 30 June 1980
UMARJADI NOTOWIJONO, Indonesia, 19 Feb 1978 to 30 June 1978
H.R DHARSONO, Indonesia, 7 June 1976 to 18 Feb 1978
LÊ LƯƠNG MINH, Vietnam, 1 January 2013 – 31 December 2017
DR SURIN PITSUWAN, Thailand, 2008-2012
ONG KENG YONG, Singapore, 1 Jan 2003 to 31 Dec 2007
RODOLFO C. SEVERINO JR, The Philippines, 1 Jan 1998 to 31 Dec 2002
DATO AJIT SINGH, Malaysia, 1 Jan 1993 to 31 Dec 1997
RUSLI NOOR, Indonesia, 17 July 1989 to 1 Jan 1993
RODERICK YONG, Brunei Darussalam, 16 July 1986 to 16 July 1989
PHAN WANNAMETHEE, Thailand, 16 July 1984 to 15 July 1986
CHAN KAI YAU, Singapore, 18 July 1982 to 15 July 1984
NARCISO G. REYES, The Philippines, 1 July 1980 to 1 July 1982
DATUK ALI BIN ABDULLAH, Malaysia, 10 July 1978 to 30 June 1980
UMARJADI NOTOWIJONO, Indonesia, 19 Feb 1978 to 30 June 1978
H.R DHARSONO, Indonesia, 7 June 1976 to 18 Feb 1978
