ESTABLISHMENT

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in
Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the
Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Brunei Darussalam then joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and
Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member
States of ASEAN.

AIMS AND PURPOSES

As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:

1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region
through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the
foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations;
2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law
in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United
Nations Charter;
3. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the
economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;
4. To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the
educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;
5. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and industries, the
expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade,
the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the
living standards of their peoples;
6. To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
7. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional
organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer
cooperation among themselves.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

In their relations with one another, the ASEAN Member States have adopted the following
fundamental principles, as contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia
(TAC) of 1976:

1. Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national
identity of all nations;
2. The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference,
subversion or coercion;
3. Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
4. Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
5. Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
6. Effective cooperation among themselves.

ASEAN COMMUNITY

The ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders on the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN, agreed
on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in
peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development and in a
community of caring societies.

At the 9th ASEAN Summit in 2003, the ASEAN Leaders resolved that an ASEAN Community shall be
established.

At the 12th ASEAN Summit in January 2007, the Leaders affirmed their strong commitment to
accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015 and signed the Cebu Declaration on
the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

The ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security
Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Each pillar has its
own Blueprint, and, together with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Strategic Framework and
IAI Work Plan Phase II (2009-2015), they form the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2015.
Please click here for the ASEAN Political-Security Community Video.

Please click here for the ASEAN Economic Community Video.

Please click here for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Video.

Please click here for ASEAN History and Purposes.

ASEAN CHARTER

The ASEAN Charter serves as a firm foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community by providing
legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN. It also codifies ASEAN norms, rules and values;
sets clear targets for ASEAN; and presents accountability and compliance.

The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008. A gathering of the ASEAN Foreign
Ministers was held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta to mark this very historic occasion for
ASEAN.

With the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN will henceforth operate under a new legal
framework and establish a number of new organs to boost its community-building process.

In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement among the 10 ASEAN
Member States.

History

The Founding of ASEAN

On 8 August 1967, five leaders – the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore and Thailand – sat down together in the main hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs
building in Bangkok, Thailand and signed a document. By virtue of that document, the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was born. The five Foreign Ministers who signed it – Adam Malik
of Indonesia, Narciso R. Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of
Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand – would subsequently be hailed as the Founding Fathers
of probably the most successful inter-governmental organization in the developing world today. And
the document that they signed would be known as the ASEAN Declaration.

It was a short, simply-worded document containing just five articles. It declared the establishment of
an Association for Regional Cooperation among the Countries of Southeast Asia to be known as the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and spelled out the aims and purposes of that
Association. These aims and purposes were about cooperation in the economic, social, cultural,
technical, educational and other fields, and in the promotion of regional peace and stability through
abiding respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United Nations
Charter. It stipulated that the Association would be open for participation by all States in the
Southeast Asian region subscribing to its aims, principles and purposes. It proclaimed ASEAN as
representing “the collective will of the nations of Southeast Asia to bind themselves together in
friendship and cooperation and, through joint efforts and sacrifices, secure for their peoples and for
posterity the blessings of peace, freedom and prosperity.”

It was while Thailand was brokering reconciliation among Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia
over certain disputes that it dawned on the four countries that the moment for regional cooperation
had come or the future of the region would remain uncertain. Recalls one of the two surviving
protagonists of that historic process, Thanat Khoman of Thailand: “At the banquet marking the
reconciliation between the three disputants, I broached the idea of forming another organization for
regional cooperation with Adam Malik. Malik agreed without hesitation but asked for time to talk with
his government and also to normalize relations with Malaysia now that the confrontation was over.
Meanwhile, the Thai Foreign Office prepared a draft charter of the new institution. Within a few
months, everything was ready. I therefore invited the two former members of the Association for
Southeast Asia (ASA), Malaysia and the Philippines, and Indonesia, a key member, to a meeting in
Bangkok. In addition, Singapore sent S. Rajaratnam, then Foreign Minister, to see me about joining
the new set-up. Although the new organization was planned to comprise only the ASA members plus
Indonesia, Singapore’s request was favorably considered.”
And so in early August 1967, the five Foreign Ministers spent four days in the relative isolation of a
beach resort in Bang Saen, a coastal town less than a hundred kilometers southeast of Bangkok.
There they negotiated over that document in a decidedly informal manner which they would later
delight in describing as “sports-shirt diplomacy.” Yet it was by no means an easy process: each man
brought into the deliberations a historical and political perspective that had no resemblance to that of
any of the others. But with goodwill and good humor, as often as they huddled at the negotiating
table, they finessed their way through their differences as they lined up their shots on the golf course
and traded wisecracks on one another’s game, a style of deliberation which would eventually become
the ASEAN ministerial tradition.

Now, with the rigors of negotiations and the informalities of Bang Saen behind them, with their
signatures neatly attached to the ASEAN Declaration, also known as the Bangkok Declaration, it was
time for some formalities. The first to speak was the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Narciso
Ramos, a one-time journalist and long-time legislator who had given up a chance to be Speaker of
the Philippine Congress to serve as one of his country’s first diplomats. He was then 66 years old and
his only son, the future President Fidel V. Ramos, was serving with the Philippine Civic Action Group
in embattled Vietnam. He recalled the tediousness of the negotiations that preceded the signing of
the Declaration that “truly taxed the goodwill, the imagination, the patience and understanding of the
five participating Ministers.” That ASEAN was established at all in spite of these difficulties, he said,
meant that its foundations had been solidly laid. And he impressed it on the audience of diplomats,
officials and media people who had witnessed the signing ceremony that a great sense of urgency
had prompted the Ministers to go through all that trouble. He spoke darkly of the forces that were
arrayed against the survival of the countries of Southeast Asia in those uncertain and critical times.

“The fragmented economies of Southeast Asia,” he said, “(with) each country pursuing its own limited
objectives and dissipating its meager resources in the overlapping or even conflicting endeavors of
sister states carry the seeds of weakness in their incapacity for growth and their self-perpetuating
dependence on the advanced, industrial nations. ASEAN, therefore, could marshal the still untapped
potentials of this rich region through more substantial united action.”

When it was his turn to speak, Adam Malik, Presidium Minister for Political Affairs and Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, recalled that about a year before, in Bangkok, at the conclusion of the
peace talks between Indonesia and Malaysia, he had explored the idea of an organization such as
ASEAN with his Malaysian and Thai counterparts. One of the “angry young men” in his country’s
struggle for independence two decades earlier, Adam Malik was then 50 years old and one of a
Presidium of five led by then General Soeharto that was steering Indonesia from the verge of
economic and political chaos. He was the Presidium’s point man in Indonesia’s efforts to mend
fences with its neighbors in the wake of an unfortunate policy of confrontation. During the past year,
he said, the Ministers had all worked together toward the realization of the ASEAN idea, “making
haste slowly, in order to build a new association for regional cooperation.”

Adam Malik went on to describe Indonesia’s vision of a Southeast Asia developing into “a region
which can stand on its own feet, strong enough to defend itself against any negative influence from
outside the region.” Such a vision, he stressed, was not wishful thinking, if the countries of the region
effectively cooperated with each other, considering their combined natural resources and manpower.
He referred to differences of outlook among the member countries, but those differences, he said,
would be overcome through a maximum of goodwill and understanding, faith and realism. Hard work,
patience and perseverance, he added, would also be necessary.

The countries of Southeast Asia should also be willing to take responsibility for whatever happens to
them, according to Tun Abdul Razak, the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, who spoke next. In his
speech, he conjured a vision of an ASEAN that would include all the countries of Southeast Asia. Tun
Abdul Razak was then concurrently his country’s Minister of Defence and Minister of National
Development. It was a time when national survival was the overriding thrust of Malaysia’s relations
with other nations and so as Minister of Defence, he was in charge of his country’s foreign affairs. He
stressed that the countries of the region should recognize that unless they assumed their common
responsibility to shape their own destiny and to prevent external intervention and interference,
Southeast Asia would remain fraught with danger and tension. And unless they took decisive and
collective action to prevent the eruption of intra-regional conflicts, the nations of Southeast Asia would
remain susceptible to manipulation, one against another.

“We the nations and peoples of Southeast Asia,” Tun Abdul Razak said, “must get together and form
by ourselves a new perspective and a new framework for our region. It is important that individually
and jointly we should create a deep awareness that we cannot survive for long as independent but
isolated peoples unless we also think and act together and unless we prove by deeds that we belong
to a family of Southeast Asian nations bound together by ties of friendship and goodwill and imbued
with our own ideals and aspirations and determined to shape our own destiny”. He added that, “with
the establishment of ASEAN, we have taken a firm and a bold step on that road”.

For his part, S. Rajaratnam, a former Minister of Culture of multi-cultural Singapore who, at that time,
served as its first Foreign Minister, noted that two decades of nationalist fervor had not fulfilled the
expectations of the people of Southeast Asia for better living standards. If ASEAN would succeed, he
said, then its members would have to marry national thinking with regional thinking.

“We must now think at two levels,” Rajaratnam said. “We must think not only of our national interests
but posit them against regional interests: that is a new way of thinking about our problems. And these
are two different things and sometimes they can conflict. Secondly, we must also accept the fact, if
we are really serious about it, that regional existence means painful adjustments to those practices
and thinking in our respective countries. We must make these painful and difficult adjustments. If we
are not going to do that, then regionalism remains a utopia.”

S. Rajaratnam expressed the fear, however, that ASEAN would be misunderstood. “We are not
against anything”, he said, “not against anybody”. And here he used a term that would have an
ominous ring even today: balkanization. In Southeast Asia, as in Europe and any part of the world, he
said, outside powers had a vested interest in the balkanization of the region. “We want to ensure,” he
said, “a stable Southeast Asia, not a balkanized Southeast Asia. And those countries who are
interested, genuinely interested, in the stability of Southeast Asia, the prosperity of Southeast Asia,
and better economic and social conditions, will welcome small countries getting together to pool their
collective resources and their collective wisdom to contribute to the peace of the world.”

The goal of ASEAN, then, is to create, not to destroy. This, the Foreign Minister of Thailand, Thanat
Khoman, stressed when it was his turn to speak. At a time when the Vietnam conflict was raging and
American forces seemed forever entrenched in Indochina, he had foreseen their eventual withdrawal
from the area and had accordingly applied himself to adjusting Thailand’s foreign policy to a reality
that would only become apparent more than half a decade later. He must have had that in mind
when, on that occasion, he said that the countries of Southeast Asia had no choice but to adjust to
the exigencies of the time, to move toward closer cooperation and even integration. Elaborating on
ASEAN objectives, he spoke of “building a new society that will be responsive to the needs of our
time and efficiently equipped to bring about, for the enjoyment and the material as well as spiritual
advancement of our peoples, conditions of stability and progress. Particularly what millions of men
and women in our part of the world want is to erase the old and obsolete concept of domination and
subjection of the past and replace it with the new spirit of give and take, of equality and partnership.
More than anything else, they want to be master of their own house and to enjoy the inherent right to
decide their own destiny …”

While the nations of Southeast Asia prevent attempts to deprive them of their freedom and
sovereignty, he said, they must first free themselves from the material impediments of ignorance,
disease and hunger. Each of these nations cannot accomplish that alone, but by joining together and
cooperating with those who have the same aspirations, these objectives become easier to attain.
Then Thanat Khoman concluded: “What we have decided today is only a small beginning of what we
hope will be a long and continuous sequence of accomplishments of which we ourselves, those who
will join us later and the generations to come, can be proud. Let it be for Southeast Asia, a potentially
rich region, rich in history, in spiritual as well as material resources and indeed for the whole ancient
continent of Asia, the light of happiness and well-being that will shine over the uncounted millions of
our struggling peoples.”

The Foreign Minister of Thailand closed the inaugural session of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations by presenting each of his colleagues with a memento. Inscribed on the memento presented
to the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, was the citation, “In recognition of services rendered by His
Excellency Adam Malik to the ASEAN organization, the name of which was suggested by him.”

And that was how ASEAN was conceived, given a name, and born. It had been barely 14 months
since Thanat Khoman brought up the ASEAN idea in his conversations with his Malaysian and
Indonesian colleagues. In about three more weeks, Indonesia would fully restore diplomatic relations
with Malaysia, and soon after that with Singapore. That was by no means the end to intra-ASEAN
disputes, for soon the Philippines and Malaysia would have a falling out on the issue of sovereignty
over Sabah. Many disputes between ASEAN countries persist to this day. But all Member Countries
are deeply committed to resolving their differences through peaceful means and in the spirit of mutual
accommodation. Every dispute would have its proper season but it would not be allowed to get in the
way of the task at hand. And at that time, the essential task was to lay the framework of regional
dialogue and cooperation.
The two-page Bangkok Declaration not only contains the rationale for the establishment of ASEAN
and its specific objectives. It represents the organization’s modus operandi of building on small steps,
voluntary, and informal arrangements towards more binding and institutionalized agreements. All the
founding member states and the newer members have stood fast to the spirit of the Bangkok
Declaration. Over the years, ASEAN has progressively entered into several formal and legally-binding
instruments, such as the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the 1995
Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone.

Against the backdrop of conflict in the then Indochina, the Founding Fathers had the foresight of
building a community of and for all Southeast Asian states. Thus the Bangkok Declaration
promulgated that “the Association is open for participation to all States in the Southeast Asian region
subscribing to the aforementioned aims, principles and purposes.” ASEAN’s inclusive outlook has
paved the way for community-building not only in Southeast Asia, but also in the broader Asia Pacific
region where several other inter-governmental organizations now co-exist.

The original ASEAN logo presented five brown sheaves of rice stalks, one for each founding member.
Beneath the sheaves is the legend “ASEAN” in blue. These are set on a field of yellow encircled by a
blue border. Brown stands for strength and stability, yellow for prosperity and blue for the spirit of
cordiality in which ASEAN affairs are conducted. When ASEAN celebrated its 30th Anniversary in
1997, the sheaves on the logo had increased to ten – representing all ten countries of Southeast Asia
and reflecting the colors of the flags of all of them. In a very real sense, ASEAN and Southeast Asia
would then be one and the same, just as the Founding Fathers had envisioned.

This article is based on the first chapter of ASEAN at 30, a publication of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations in commemoration of its 30th Anniversary on 8 August 1997, written by Jamil Maidan
Flores and Jun Abad.

The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.

GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF THE ASEAN FLAG

1. The ASEAN Flag is a symbol of Member States’ unity and support for the principles and
endeavours of ASEAN and is a means to promote greater ASEAN awareness and solidarity.
2. The ASEAN Flag represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN. The colours of
the Flag – blue, red, white and yellow – represent the main colours of the flags of all the
ASEAN Member States.
3. The blue represents peace and stability. Red depicts courage and dynamism, white shows
purity and yellow symbolises prosperity.
4. The stalks of padi in the centre of the Emblem represent the dream of ASEAN’s Founding
Fathers for an ASEAN comprising all the countries in Southeast Asia, bound together in
friendship and solidarity.
5. The circle represents the unity of ASEAN.

6. The ASEAN Flag is the reserved copyright

of ASEAN.
7. The specifications of the ASEAN Flag are annexed.

A. Dignity of the ASEAN Flag

8. The ASEAN Flag shall be treated with respect and shall not be subjected to any indignity.
B. Use of the ASEAN Flag

B.1. Use of the ASEAN Flag by ASEAN Member States

9. ASEAN Member States shall use the ASEAN Flag in the manner specified under these
guidelines that include the following:
a. The ASEAN Flag shall be displayed at all ASEAN National Secretariats.
b. The ASEAN Flag shall be displayed on a permanent basis at Diplomatic and Consular
Missions of ASEAN Member States alongside the national flag. The ASEAN Flag shall
be displayed by the ASEAN Member States in third countries which are recognised by
all ASEAN Member States.
c. The ASEAN Flag shall be displayed alongside the national flag in the following manner:

d. The ASEAN Flag shall be displayed during ASEAN meetings, ASEAN Day Celebrations,
ceremonies and functions held in Member States.

e. The display of the ASEAN Flag shall be in accordance with national laws and regulations
of the respective countries and the provisions under these Guidelines.

B.2. Use of the ASEAN Flag by the ASEAN Secretariat

10. The ASEAN Secretariat shall use the ASEAN Flag in the manner specified under these
guidelines that include the following:
a. Display at the Secretariat buildings and residence of the Secretary-General;
b. During ASEAN meetings
c. On the official vehicle of the Secretary-General of ASEAN during official functions; and
d. During ASEAN Day celebrations, official functions, ceremonies, exhibitions, gatherings
or any other occasions organised by the ASEAN Secretariat in its effort to promote the
interest of ASEAN.

B.3. Use of the ASEAN Flag by ASEAN Committees in Third Countries

11. ASEAN Committees in Third Countries shall also display the ASEAN Flag during ASEAN Day
celebrations, official functions, ceremonies, exhibitions, gatherings or any other occasions in its
effort to promote the interest of ASEAN.

B.4. Use of the ASEAN Flag by ASEAN institutions

12. ASEAN institutions shall display the ASEAN Flag at their premises as well as during ASEAN
meetings, ASEAN Day celebrations, official functions, ceremonies, exhibitions, gatherings or
any other occasions in its effort to promote the interest of ASEAN.

B.5. Use of the ASEAN Flag by Countries, International Organisations and Entities Associated
with ASEAN
 13. Countries which have relations with ASEAN, International Organisations which work closely
with ASEAN and entities associated with ASEAN may display the ASEAN Flag in support of
activities related to ASEAN.

B.6. Use of the ASEAN Flag in Mourning

14. Upon the passing of a Head of State or Government of a Member State, the ASEAN Flag will
be flown at half-mast at the ASEAN Secretariat building and other ASEAN institutional
buildings for a period of three days. The ASEAN Flag may also be flown at half-mast in special
circumstances including natural calamities in ASEAN Member States, upon the approval of all
ASEAN Member States.
15. Should the procedure in paragraph 14 prove not be practical due to weather conditions or
other reasons, the ASEAN Flag may be flown at half-mast for a period of three days during the
period of the funeral. Under exceptional circumstances, it may be flown at half-mast for a
period of three days immediately after the death and during the period of the funeral.
16. When the ASEAN Flag is flown at half-mast at the ASEAN Secretariat building and other
ASEAN institutional buildings, no other flag will be displayed.
17. Member States will decide if the ASEAN Flag should be flown at half-mast in their respective
countries as well as the period of mourning.

C. Position of ASEAN Flag in the Flag Arrangements for ASEAN Meetings

18. The ASEAN outdoor/venue and room flag shall be displayed together with the flags of ASEAN
Member States in alphabetical order, based on the names of Member States, starting from
Brunei Darussalam on the extreme left and with the ASEAN Flag always on the extreme right
after the national flag of Viet Nam, in the following manner:
Diagram 1: Outdoor Flags Diagram

18. When placed with the flag of a Dialogue Partner, the ASEAN Flag along with the flags of
ASEAN Member States shall be displayed in the following manner:
Diagram 2: Venue Flags (Outdoor/Indoor)

20. The ASEAN table flag shall be displayed at the left side of the name plaque of the ASEAN
Secretariat, in the following manner:
D. Disposal of Worn Flag

21. When the ASEAN Flag has become worn or torn or frayed, it shall not be displayed, and shall
be properly disposed of.

E. Approval of and Amendments to the Guidelines

22. The Guidelines shall be approved by the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC).
23. Any Member State may propose amendments to the Guidelines, which shall be submitted to
the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) for its consideration and agreed upon by
consensus. The agreed amendments shall be submitted to the ASEAN Coordinating Council
(ACC) for notation, and thereafter come into immediate effect.

Guidelines on the Use of the ASEAN Emblem

1. The ASEAN Emblem shall be the official emblem of ASEAN.

2. The 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.
3. The blue represents peace and stability. Red depicts courage and dynamism, white shows purity and yellow
symbolises prosperity.
4. The stalks of padi in the centre of the Emblem represent the dream of ASEAN’s Founding Fathers for an ASEAN
comprising all the countries in Southeast Asia, bound together in friendship and solidarity
5. The circle represents the unity of ASEAN.

6. The ASEAN Emblem is the reserved copyright of ASEAN.

A. Use of the ASEAN Emblem

7. The ASEAN Emblem shall be used in a manner that promotes ASEAN and its purposes and principles. It shall not
be used for political purposes or for activities that harm the dignity of ASEAN.
8. The ASEAN Emblem shall not be used for commercial purposes unless the entities concerned obtain official
approval through the procedures stipulated in Article A.4.

A.1. Use of the ASEAN Emblem by ASEAN Member States

9. ASEAN Member States are encouraged to use the ASEAN Emblem in official functions relating to ASEAN.
10. The ASEAN Emblem shall be placed to the right of the ASEAN Member States’ National Symbols, as seen by the
viewer.

A.2. Use of the ASEAN Emblem by the ASEAN Secretariat

11. The ASEAN Secretariat shall use the ASEAN Emblem in the manner considered appropriate by the Secretary-
General which may include the following:
a. Display at the Secretariat buildings and residence of the Secretary-General;
b. Use in its official correspondence as letterhead;
c. Use as the official seal for the ASEAN Secretariat;
d. Use in its official publications, stationery and souvenirs;
e. Mark or engrave on properties belonging to the ASEAN Secretariat; and
f. Display at ASEAN official functions.

A.3. Use of the ASEAN Emblem by Entities Associated with ASEAN

12. . Entities officially associated with ASEAN as in Annex 2 of the ASEAN Charter may use the ASEAN Emblem in
their official correspondences and meetings.
A.4. Use of the ASEAN Emblem by Other Entities

13. Other entities based in an ASEAN Member State shall submit their request for the use of the ASEAN Emblem to
the ASEAN National Secretariat concerned.
14. Other entities based inside the ASEAN region that also have regional/international characteristics and/or
operations, shall submit their request for the use of the ASEAN Emblem to the Community Relations Division of
the ASEAN Secretariat, who will subsequently refer their request to the Committee of Permanent
Representatives to ASEAN for consideration and approval.

Community Relations Division

The ASEAN Secretariat
70 A, Jl. Sisingamangaraja
Jakarta 12110
Indonesia
E-mail: public@asean.org

15. Other entities based outside the ASEAN region shall submit their request for the use of the ASEAN Emblem to
the Community Relations Division of the ASEAN Secretariat.
16. Requests for the use of the ASEAN Emblem shall be submitted in writing, and accompanied with the following
information:
o organisational profile;
o nature and purpose of the proposed activity;
o duration of the use of the ASEAN Emblem; and
o prototype of the proposed use of the ASEAN Emblem.
17. The ASEAN National Secretariats, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, and the ASEAN
Secretariat shall consider all requests under their specific jurisdiction in accordance with paragraphs 13, 14 and
15, respectively. The approval granted shall be exclusive to the proposed activity. Such approval shall not be
extended to third parties.
18. Authorisation to use the ASEAN Emblem does not confer on those to whom it is granted any right of exclusive
use, nor does it allow them to appropriate the Emblem or any similar trademark or logo, either by registration or
any other means.

B. Reproduction of the ASEAN Emblem

19. The ASEAN Emblem shall be reproduced in accordance with the Specifications and Colours indicated in the
Annex.

C. Approval of and Amendments to the Guidelines

20. The Guidelines shall be approved by the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC).
21. Any Member State may propose amendments to the Guidelines, which shall be submitted to the Committee of
Permanent Representatives (CPR) for its consideration and agreed upon by consensus. The agreed amendments
shall be submitted to the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) for notation, and thereafter come into immediate
effect.

8th August is observed as ASEAN Day.

uidelines on the Use of the ASEAN Anthem

1. The ASEAN Anthem is an expression of ASEAN unity. It also strengthens the sense of ASEAN identity and
belonging among the peoples of the region.
2. The ASEAN Anthem is titled “THE ASEAN WAY”, with musical composition and lyrics as attached.
3. The ASEAN Anthem is under the copyright of ASEAN with the ASEAN Secretariat as the main body to oversee its
proper use.

A. Dignity of the ASEAN Anthem

 4. The ASEAN Anthem shall be used in a proper and dignified manner. When the Anthem is played, the audience
shall rise.
5. The Anthem shall not be used in whole or in parts for commercial purposes or political propaganda.

B. Use of the ASEAN Anthem

6. The use of the ASEAN Anthem is encouraged at ASEAN formal meetings and related activities, including those
with ASEAN Dialogue Partners.
7. The ASEAN Anthem may be played to commemorate special occasions of ASEAN, such as the anniversary of
ASEAN, or in efforts to promote the interests of ASEAN.
8. ASEAN Member States are encouraged to translate the ASEAN Anthem into local languages as a way to
promote the Anthem and increase ASEAN awareness within their countries.

C. Inquiries on the Use of the ASEAN Anthem

9. Inquiries concerning the ASEAN Anthem should be addressed to: Community Relations Division
The ASEAN Secretariat
70 A, Jl. Sisingamangaraja
Jakarta 12110
Indonesia
Email: public@asean.org

D. Approval of and Amendments to the Guidelines

10. The Guidelines shall be approved by the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC).
11. Any Member State may propose amendments to the Guidelines, which shall be submitted to the Committee of
Permanent Representatives (CPR) for its consideration and agreed upon by consensus. The agreed amendments
shall be submitted to the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) for notation, and thereafter come into immediate
effect.

Note:

The Guidelines were adopted at the 6th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC), Ha Noi, 8 April 2010.

Audio, “The ASEAN Way”

The Asean Way / Original Version

By :

Mr.Kittikhun Sodprasert, Mr Sampow Triudom, Mrs.Payom Valaipatchra

Lyrics, “The ASEAN Way”

Raise our flag high, sky high

Embrace the pride in our heart

ASEAN we are bonded as one

Look-in out to the world.

For peace, our goal from the very start

And prosperity to last.

We dare to dream we care to share.

Together for ASEAN

we dare to dream,

we care to share for it’s the way of ASEAN.

Guidelines on the Use of the Name “ASEAN”

A. Scope and Application

1. The Name “ASEAN” refers to the “Association of Southeast Asian Nations”.

2. These Guidelines set out the procedure for the request and authorization for the use of the name “ASEAN”.
3. These Guidelines shall apply to entities requesting to use the name “ASEAN” and shall not apply to the following:
 3.1 ASEAN Organs under Chapter IV of the ASEAN Charter including their mechanisms, activities and
programmes;

3.2 ASEAN mechanism officially established by ASEAN Member States;

3.3 Entities belonging to or activities organized by the Governments of ASEAN Member States; and

3.4 Entities associated with ASEAN in accordance with Article 16 of the ASEAN Charter.

B. Protection

4. The name “ASEAN” is protected under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property,
adopted in 1883 and revised in Stockholm in 1967.

C. Use of the Name “ASEAN”

5. The use of the name “ASEAN” aims to promote ASEAN and its purposes and principles as stipulated in the ASEAN
Charter. It shall not be used for political propaganda or for activities that harm the dignity and integrity of ASEAN, and
adversely affects ASEAN or ASEAN Member States.
6. The request for the use of the name “ASEAN” shall satisfy the following conditions:

6.1 The entity shall be indigenous to ASEAN;

6.2 The use of the name “ASEAN” shall be in support of ASEAN purposes and principles as well as for mutual
benefit in the context of attaining ASEAN Community 2015 and beyond and shall not have any negative effect
on such purposes and principles;
6.3 The name “ASEAN” shall not be brought into disrepute by its use.

ASEAN Leaders adopt Master Plan on Connectivity 2025

VIENTIANE, 6 September 2016 – ASEAN Leaders adopted the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025)
in Vientiane, Lao PDR today. The MPAC 2025, which succeeds the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2010, focuses
on five strategic areas: sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory excellence and people
mobility. The MPAC 2025 was developed in consultation with relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and other stakeholders.
The remaining initiatives from MPAC 2010 were evaluated and incorporated in the MPAC 2025.

Sustainable Infrastructure: Given that ASEAN needs at least US$110 billion of infrastructure investment each year to
support future growth, the MPAC 2025 aims to help investors seize opportunities in sustainable infrastructure by
improving project preparations, enhancing infrastructure productivity and supporting cities in adopting sustainable
practices.

Digital Innovation: Digital technologies in ASEAN could potentially be worth up to US$625 billion by 2030, which may be
derived from increased efficiency, new products and services. Capturing digital innovation requires the establishment of
regulatory frameworks for the delivery of new digital services; support for the sharing of best practices on open data; and
equipping micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the capabilities to access these new technologies.

Seamless Logistics: Improving logistics competitiveness will ease the movement of goods within the ASEAN community,
increasing business opportunities for ASEAN citizens. MPAC 2025 aims to support this by identifying and addressing key
bottlenecks on important trade routes in ASEAN.

Regulatory Excellence: ASEAN Member States have reduced tariffs significantly, benefiting consumers in the region.
The MPAC focuses on standards harmonisation, mutual recognition and technical regulations, as well as trade-distorting
non-tariff measures in order to achieve regulatory excellence.

People Mobility: The number of tourists from outside ASEAN could reach 150 million by 2025. The MPAC 2025 will
focus on providing comprehensive information on travel options and simplifying visa application processes. It will also
develop high-quality qualification frameworks in critical vocational occupations, which ASEAN Member States could
implement according to their national circumstances, and encourage greater mobility of intra-ASEAN university students.

“The Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 is ambitious, but it is also practical. We have designed strong
implementation mechanisms to ensure that effective coordination takes place among various agencies and we can see
real change happen over the next 10 years,” said H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR and
Chair of ASEAN Coordinating Council which oversees connectivity matters for the regional body.

With a young population, a strategic location and a range of technologies it can leverage, if implemented effectively, the
MPAC 2025 will only bring more economic and educational opportunities for the peoples of ASEAN and can prove that
the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
The Master Plan was prepared with the support of the Australian Government through the ASEAN-Australia Development
Cooperation Program II (AADCP II).

 Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity Monitoring and Evaluation

 Project Briefs for Selected PPP Projects: ASEAN Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Programme
 Public Private Partnership in South East Asia: Set of Guidelines
 Financing Infrastructure for ASEAN Connectivity
 ASEAN Investment report 2015: Infrastructure Investment and Connectivity
 ASEAN Infrastructure Intelligence Report
 Infographics
o Understanding ASEAN Connectivity
o Physical Connectivity
o Institutional Connectivity
o People to People Connectivity
Brunei Darussalam

Head of State : His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah

Capital : Bandar Seri Begawan

National Flag : Click Here for detail Specification.

Language(s) : Malay, English

Currency : B$ (Brunei Dollar)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Brunei Darussalam Website: www.mfa.gov.bn

Cambodia

Head of State : His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni

Head of Government : Prime Minister Hun Sen

Capital : Phnom Penh

National Flag : Click Here for detail Specification.

Language : Khmer

Currency : Riel

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Cambodia Website: www.mfaic.gov.kh

Indonesia

Head of State : President Joko Widodo

Capital : Jakarta

Language : Indonesian

Currency : Rupiah

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Website: www.kemlu.go.id

Lao PDR

Head of State : President Bounnhang Vorachith

Head of Government : Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith

Capital : Vientiane

National Flag : Click Here for detail Specification.

Language : Lao

Currency : Kip

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR Website: www.mofa.gov.la

Malaysia

Head of State : His Majesty The King Almu’tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Al-Haj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah ibni
Almarhum Sultan Badlishah

Head of Government : The Honourable Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak

Capital : Kuala Lumpur

National Flag : Click Here for detail Specification.

Language(s) : Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil

Currency : Ringgit

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Website: www.kln.gov.my

ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat Website: www.kln.gov.my/myasean

Myanmar

Head of State : President U Htin Kyaw

Capital : Nay Pyi Taw

National Flag : Click Here for detail Specification.

Language : Myanmar

Currency : Kyat

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar Website: www.mofa.gov.mm

Philippines

Head of State : President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

Capital : Manila

National Flag : Click Here for detail Specification.

Language(s) : Filipino, English, Spanish

Currency : Peso

Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Website: www.dfa.gov.ph

Singapore

Head of State : President Halimah Yacob

Head of Government : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

Capital : Singapore

National Flag : Click Here for detail Specification.

Language(s) : English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil

Currency : S$ (Singapore Dollar)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Website: www.mfa.gov.sg

Thailand

Head of State : His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun

Head of Government : Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha

Capital : Bangkok

National Flag : Click Here for detail Specification.

Language : Thai

Currency : Baht

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Website: www.mfa.go.th

Viet Nam

Head of State : President Tran Dai Quang

Head of Government : Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

Capital : Ha Noi

National Flag : Click Here for detail Specification.

Language : Vietnamese

Currency : Dong

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam We

Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Charter/Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

The ASEAN Charter serves as a firm foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community by providing legal status and
institutional framework for ASEAN. It also codifies ASEAN norms, rules and values; sets clear targets for ASEAN; and
presents accountability and compliance.

The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008. A gathering of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers was held at
the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta to mark this very historic occasion for ASEAN.

With the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN will henceforth operate under a new legal framework and
establish a number of new organs to boost its community-building process.

In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement among the 10 ASEAN Member States. It will also
be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations, pursuant to Article 102, Paragraph 1 of the Charter of the United
Nations.

The importance of the ASEAN Charter can be seen in the following contexts:

 New political commitment at the top level

 New and enhanced commitments
 New legal framework, legal personality
 New ASEAN bodies
 Two new openly-recruited DSGs
 More ASEAN meetings
 More roles of ASEAN Foreign Ministers
 New and enhanced role of the Secretary-General of ASEAN
 Other new initiatives and changes

13th ASEAN Summit, Singapore, 2007

Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Singapore, 20 November 2007

Singapore Declaration on the ASEAN Charter, Singapore, 20 November 2007

High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter (2007)
Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Charter/High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter (2007)

 Cebu Declaration on the Blueprint of the ASEAN Charter, Cebu, Philippines, 13 January 2007
 List of Members of the High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter
 Brief Biographies of the High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the ASEAN Charter
  Terms of Reference (TOR) of the High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the ASEAN Charter
 Activities of the High Level Task Force (HLTF)

Cebu Declaration on the Blueprint of the ASEAN Charter, Cebu, Philippines, 13 January
2007

WE, the Heads of State/Government of Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao
People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of
Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Member Countries of ASEAN, on the
occasion of the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu;

INSPIRED by One Vision, One Identity, the creation of One Community for ASEAN by the year 2020;

EMBARKING on a momentous undertaking of establishing an ASEAN Community and facilitating its realisation by
adopting an ASEAN Charter as stated in the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Charter
adopted at the 11th ASEAN Summit on 12 December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur;

CONSCIOUS that ASEAN has matured into a regional organisation and is expanding its role as an integrated regional
economy and a dynamic force in maintaining regional peace and stability as envisaged in the Declaration of ASEAN
Concord II (Bali Concord II) and its plans of action, roadmaps, and the ASEAN Vision 2020 which envisions ASEAN as a
concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward-looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in
partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies;

MINDFUL of the immense opportunities and key challenges posed by ASEAN’s regional integration process, rapid
globalisation and impact of new technologies, as well as the pressing need to strengthen and reinforce further the existing
institutions of ASEAN by providing ASEAN with a legal personality and an efficient structure, which will facilitate the
attainment of community objectives;

RECALLING our decision in the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Charter at the 11th
ASEAN Summit to establish the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on the ASEAN Charter, whom we mandated to examine
and provide practical recommendations on the directions and nature of the ASEAN Charter relevant to the ASEAN
Community as envisaged in the Bali Concord II and beyond, taking into account, but not limited to, the principles, values
and objectives as contained in the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Charter, and to consider
their recommendations at our subsequent meetings;

NOTING that our Ministers have established a High Level Task Force to carry out the drafting of the ASEAN Charter
based on the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Charter and the recommendations of the
EPG;

RECOGNISING the outstanding and comprehensive work of the EPG and its dedication and the efficiency with which it
has carried out its mandate, producing the Report of the EPG on the ASEAN Charter;

ACKNOWLEDGING the earnest efforts of the EPG in actively consulting various ASEAN sectors and stakeholders,
including civil society organisations, businessmen, academics and parliamentarians on their views regarding what should
be the key components of an ASEAN Charter and the changes necessary to support the realisation of ASEAN’s
community building;

WE DO HEREBY AGREE :

FIRST, we are committed to establish an ASEAN Charter as a crowning achievement of 40 years of ASEAN to enable
ASEAN to meet future challenges and opportunities.

SECOND, we reiterate our conviction that an ASEAN Charter will serve as a firm foundation in achieving one ASEAN
Community by providing an enhanced institutional framework as well as conferring a legal personality to ASEAN.

THIRD, we endorse the Report of the EPG on the ASEAN Charter and agree that the High Level Task Force should
commence the drafting of the ASEAN Charter based on our directions given at the 11th and 12th ASEAN Summits, the
relevant ASEAN documents, together with the EPG recommendations, to be completed in time for the 13th ASEAN
Summit in Singapore in November 2007.

DONE at Cebu, Philippines, this Thirteenth Day of January in the Year Two Thousand and Seven, in a single original copy
in the English language.

For Brunei Darussalam:

HAJI HASSANAL BOLKIAH

Sultan of Brunei Darussalam

For the Kingdom of Cambodia:

SAMDECH HUN SEN

 Prime Minister

For the Republic of Indonesia:

DR. SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO

President

For the Lao People’s Democratic Republic:

BOUASONE BOUPHAVANH

Prime Minister

For Malaysia:

DATO’ SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI

Prime Minister

For the Union of Myanmar:

GENERAL SOE WIN

Prime Minister

For the Republic of the Philippines:

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President

For the Republic of Singapore:

LEE HSIEN LOONG

Prime Minister

For the Kingdom of Thailand:

GENERAL SURAYUD CHULANONT (RET.)

Prime Minister

For the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam:

NGUYEN TAN DUNG

Prime Minister

May 10th, 2012

ASEAN Summit
Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Structure/ASEAN Summit

 Thirtyfirst ASEAN Summits, Manila, Philippines, 13 – 14 November 2017

 Thirtieth ASEAN Summits, Manila, Philippines, 26 – 29 April 2017
 Twentyeighth and Twentyninth ASEAN Summits, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 6-8 September 2016
 Twentyseventh ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 18-22 November 2015
 Twentysixth ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur & Langkawi, Malaysia, 26-28 April 2015
 Twentyfith ASEAN Summit, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 11-13 November 2014
 Twentyfourth ASEAN Summit, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 10-11 May 2014
 Twentythird ASEAN Summit, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 9-10 October 2013
 Twentysecond ASEAN Summit, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 24-25 April 2013
 Twentyfirst ASEAN Summit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 18 November 2012
 Twentieth ASEAN Summit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 03-04 April 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, Philippines, 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
 ASEAN Summits Photos

31st ASEAN Summit, Manila, Philippines 13 – 14 November 2017

Statement

 Chairman’s Statement of The 20th ASEAN-Japan Summit

 Chairman’s Statement of The 20th ASEAN Plus Three Commemorative Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of The 19th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of The 12th East Asia Summit, Manila, 14 November 2017
 Remarks of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for The Opening Ceremony of The 31st ASEAN Summit and
Related Summits
 Co-Chairs’ Press Statement of the ASEAN-Canada Commemorative Summit on the Occasion of the 40th
Anniversary of the Establishment of ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations
 Press Statement of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit on the Occasion of the 40th Anniversary of
the Establishment of ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations
 Chairman’s Statement of the 31st ASEAN Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of the 20th ASEAN China Summit
 East Summit Leaders’ Statement on Cooperation in poverty Alleviation
 EAS Leaders’ Statement on Countering Ideological Challenges of Terrorism and Terrorist Narratives and
Propaganda
 East Asia Summit Leader’ Statement on Chemical Weapons
 ASEAN Plus Three Leaders’ Statement on Food Security Cooperation
 The Signing of The ASEAN–Hongkong, China Free Trade Agreement and ASEAN-Hongkong, China
Investment Agreement, Manila, 12 November 2017
 ASEAN – China Joint Statement on Comprehensively Strengthening Effective Anti-corruption
Cooperation
  Joint Statement between ASEAN and China on Further Deepening the Cooperation on Infrastructure
Connectivity
 Joint Statement between ASEAN and China on Tourism Cooperation
 ASEAN – China Joint Statement on Comprehensively Strengthening Effective Anti Corruption
Cooperation
 Joint Statement of the ASEAN – US Commemorative Summit on the 40th Anniversary of the ASEAN – US
Dialogue Relation
 Joint Leaders’ Statement on the Negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP)
 ASEAN Statement on The Engagement with Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Agreements and Declarations

 Leaders’ Declaration on Ending All Forms of Malnutrition

 Leaders’ Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):Combating AMR through One Health Approach
 Leaders’ Declaration on Disaster Health Management
 Joint Statement on Climate Change to The 23rd Session of The Conference of The Parties to The United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP23)
 Declaration on The Adoption of The ASEAN Youth Development Index
 Declaration on the Gender-Responsive Implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and
Sustainable Development Goals
 Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace and Security in ASEAN
 Declaration on Culture of Prevention for a Peaceful, Inclusive, Resilient, Healthy and Harmonious Society
 ASEAN Joint Declaration on Hazardous Chemicals and Wastes Management
 ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers
 East Asia Summit Leaders’ Declaration on Anti-money Laundering and Countering the Financing of
Terrorism
 Declaration for a Decade of Coastal and Marine Environmental Protection in the South China Sea (2017-
2027)
 ASEAN Declaration to Prevent and Combat Cybercrime
 Manila Declaration to Counter the rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism
 Manila Declaration on the 20th Anniversary of ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation
 Action Agenda on Mainstreaming Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in ASEAN

Press Releases

 ASEAN Launches Investment Report 2017 and ASEAN at 50: A Historic Milestone for FDI and MNEs in
ASEAN
 ASEAN Launches ASEAN Connectivity 2025 Video Series
 People-focused issue high on 31st ASEAN Summit agenda
 ASEAN Leaders commit to safeguard the rights of Migrant workers

Photos

30th ASEAN Summit, Manila, 26 – 29 April 2017

Home/30th ASEAN Summit, Manila, 26 – 29 April 2017

30th ASEAN Summit, Manila, 26 – 29 April 2017

Statements

 Chairman’s Statement of The 30th ASEAN Summit

 Remarks of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Opening Ceremony of the 30th ASEAN Summit, PICC, Manila,
Philippines, 29 April 2017

Agreements and Declarations

 ASEAN Declaration on the Role of Civil Service as a Catalyst for Achieving the ASEAN Community Vision 2025

Press Releases

 President Duterte hosts his first ASEAN Leaders’ summit

 ASEAN to strengthen civil service to achieve Vision 2025

28th – 29th ASEAN Summits, Vientiane, 6-8 September 2016

Home/28th – 29th ASEAN Summits, Vientiane, 6-8 September 2016
 28th – 29th ASEAN Summits, Vientiane, 6-8 September 2016

Statements

 Chairman’s Statement of The 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits

 Joint Statement of The 19th ASEAN-China Summit to Commemorate The 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-China
Dialogue Relations
 Joint Statement between ASEAN and China On Production Capacity Cooperation
 Joint Statement on The Application of The Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea in The South China Sea
 ASEAN Plus Three Statement on Active Ageing
 ASEAN Plus Three Leaders’ Statement on Promoting Sustainable Development Cooperation
 Joint Leaders’ Statement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
 ASEAN Joint Statement to The Thirteenth Meeting of The Conference of Parties to The Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD COP 13)
 ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change to The 22nd Conference of The Parties (COP-22) to The United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
 East Asia Summit Statement on Non-Proliferation
 Chairman’s Statement of The 19th ASEAN-China Summit to Commemorate The 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-
China Dialogue Relations
 Chairman’s Statement of The 14th ASEAN-India Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of The 8th ASEAN-United Nations Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of The 19th ASEAN Plus Three Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of The First ASEAN-Australia Biennial Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of The 4th ASEAN-United States Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of The 18th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of The 19th ASEAN-Japan Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of The 11th East Asia Summit

Speeches

 Welcoming Remarks by H.E. Thongloun SISOULITH, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR at the Opening Ceremony of
the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits
 Keynote Address by H.E. Bounnhang VORACHITH, President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic at the
Opening Ceremony of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits
 Closing Remarks By H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR at the Closing Ceremony of the
28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related Summits and Handing Over of ASEAN Chairmanship to the Republic
of the Philippines

Agreements and Declarations

 ASEAN-Australia Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism

 ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Education for Out-of-school Children and Youth (OOSCY)
 Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work
Promotion in ASEAN
 ASEAN Declaration of Commitment on HIV and AIDS: Fast-Tracking and Sustaining HIV and AIDS Responses
To End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030
 Vientiane Declaration on Reinforcing Cultural Heritage Cooperation in ASEAN
 ASEAN Declaration on ONE ASEAN, ONE RESPONSE: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in The Region
and Outside The Region
 East Asia Summit Declaration on Strengthening Responses to Migrants in Crisis and Trafficking in Persons
 Pakse Declaration on ASEAN Roadmap for Strategic Development of Ecotourism Clusters and Tourism Corridors

7th ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia, 18-22 November 2015

Home/27th ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia, 18-22 November 2015

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27th ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia, 18-22 November 2015

Statements

 Chairman’s Statement of The 27th ASEAN SUMMIT, Kuala Lumpur, 21 November 2015

 Joint Statement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Negotiations

 Chairman’s Statement of The 18th ASEAN-CHINA Summit Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 21 November 2015
 Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and
Prosperity (2016-2020)
  Chairman’s Statement of The 13th ASEAN-INDIA Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 21 November 2015
 Chairman’s Statement of The 17th ASEAN-REPUBLIC of KOREA Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 22 November 2015
 Chairman’s Statement of The 18TH ASEAN Plus Three Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 22 November 2015
 Chairman’s Statement of The 18TH ASEAN-JAPAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 22 November 2015
 Chairman’s Statement of The 3RD ASEAN-UNITED STATES Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 21 November 2015
 Chairman’s Statement of The 7th ASEAN-UNITED NATIONS (UN) Summit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 22
November 2015
 Chairman’s Statement of The 10th East Asia Summit Kuala Lumpur, 22 November 2015.
 Joint ASEAN-New Zealand Leaders’ Statement on the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue
Relations: Advancing our Strategic Partnership towards greater mutual benefit and prosperity, Kuala Lumpur, 22
November 2015.
 Plan Of Action to Implement the Joint Statement for ASEAN-NZ Startegic Partnership 2016 – 2020, Kuala
Lumpur, 22 November 2015.
 Joint Statement On The ASEAN-U.S. Strategic Partnership, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 21 November 2015.
 Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-U.S. Strategic Partnership (2016-2020).
 ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change to the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
 ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Elimination of Violence against Children (ASEAN RPA on EVAC)
 ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Elimination of Violence against Women (ASEAN RPA on EVAW)
 Projected Gender Impact of the ASEAN Economic Community
 Report of the ASEAN Regional Assesment of MDG Achievement and Post-2015 Development Priorities

Speeches

 Opening Address by Yab Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak Prime Minister of MALAYSIA on the Opening
Ceremony of The 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits on 21 November 2015 st the Plenary Hall, Level 1,
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

Agreements and Declarations

 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on The Establishment of The ASEAN Community, in Kuala Lumpur, 22 November
2015.
 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together in Kuala Lumpur, 22 November 2015.
 ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education
 Declaration on ASEAN Post-2015 Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Agenda
 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Ageing: Empowering Older Persons in ASEAN
 Putrajaya Joint Declaration on ASEAN Post-2015 Priorities Towards an ASEAN Citizen-Centric Civil Service
 Regional Framework and Action Plan to Implement the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection

23rd ASEAN Summit, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 9-10 October 2013
Home/23rd ASEAN Summit, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 9-10 October 2013

23rd ASEAN Summit, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 9-10 October 2013

Source from Summit Photo Gallery

Speeches

Statements

 Chairman’s Statement of the 23rd ASEAN Summit

 Chairman’s Statement of the 16th ASEAN-Japan Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of the 16th ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of the 16th ASEAN-China Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of the 1st ASEAN-U.S. Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of the 11th ASEAN-India Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of the 5th ASEAN-United Nations (UN) Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of the 16th ASEAN Plus Three Summit
 Chairman’s Statement of the 8th East Asia Summit
 Joint Statement of the 16th ASEAN-China Summit on Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN-
China Strategic Partnership

Agreements & Declarations

 Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision

 Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on Youth Enterpreneurship and Employment
 Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases in ASEAN
 ASEAN Declaration on Enhancing Cooperation in Disaster Management
 ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection
  The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Elimination of Violence Against Children in
ASEAN
 Declaration of the 8th East Asia Summit on Food Security

The First ASEAN Summit

Home/The First ASEAN Summit

The First ASEAN Summit

 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (1976)

 Declaration of ASEAN Concord (1976)
 First Pre-ASEAN Summit Ministerial Meeting (1976)
 Joint Communique of the First ASEAN Heads of Government Meeting (1976)

The Fourth ASEAN Summit

Home/The Fourth ASEAN Summit

The Fourth ASEAN Summit

Agreements

 Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area
 Framework Agreement on Enhancing ASEAN Economic Cooperation

Joint Communique

The Fifth ASEAN Summit

Home/The Fifth ASEAN Summit

The Fifth ASEAN Summit

Welcoming Remarks

 Welcoming Remark by His Excellency Banharn Silpa-Archa Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand

Opening Statements

 His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam

 His Excellency President Soeharto of Republic of Indonesia
 His Excellency Dato’ Seri Mahathir Bin Mohamad of Malaysia
 His Excellency President Fidel V. Ramos of Republic of Philippines
 His Excellency Goh Chok Tong of Republic of Singapore
 His Excellency Banharn Silpa-Archa of Kingdom of Thailand
 His Excellency Vo Van kiet of Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Closing Statements

 His Excellency Mr. Banharn Silpa-Archa of Kingdom of Thailand

 His Excellency Mr. Goh Chok Tong of Republic of Singapore
 His Excellency Mr. Vo Van kiet of Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Speeches by CLM Leaders

 His Excellency Senior General Than Shwe of Union of Myanmar

 His Excellency Mr. Khamtay Siphandone of Lao People’s Democratic Repubic
 His Royal Highnes Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh of Kingdom of Cambodia

Protocols Signed

 Protocol for the Accession of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Framework Agreements on Enhancing
ASEAN Economic Cooperation
 Protocol to Amend the Framework Agreements on Enhancing ASEAN Economic Cooperation
 Protocol to Amend the Agreement on ASEAN Preferential Trading Arrangements
 Protocol for the Accession of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Agreement on the Common Effective
Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
 Protocol to Amend the Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme for the ASEAN
Free Trade Area (AFTA)
  Protocol Amending the Agreement on ASEAN Energy Cooperation

New Agreements Signed

 Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone

 ASEAN Framework Agreement on Intellectual Property Cooperation

Bangkok Summit Declaration

 Bangkok Summit Declaration

July 23rd, 2012

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ighlights of the Second Informal ASEAN Summit Malaysia, 14 – 16 December 1997

Home/Highlights of the Second Informal ASEAN Summit Malaysia, 14 – 16 December 1997

Highlights of the Second Informal ASEAN Summit Malaysia, 14 – 16 December 1997

 ASEAN Vision 2020

 ASEAN Economic Ministers Sign Protocol to Implement the Initial Package of Commitments Under the ASEAN
Framework Agreement on Services
 Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the ASEAN Foundation
 Newly Established Foundation Aims to Promote ASEAN Awareness
 ASEAN Citation Conferred on Signatories of 1967 Bangkok Declaration
 Joint Statement of the Heads of State/Government of the Member States of ASEAN on the Financial Situation
 Joint Statement of the Meeting of Heads of State/Government of the Member States of ASEAN and the Prime
Minister of the Republic of Korea
 Joint Statement of the Meeting of Heads of State/Government of the Member States of ASEAN and the Prime
Minister of Japan
 Joint Statement of the Meeting of Heads of State/Government of the Member States of ASEAN and the President
of the People’s Republic of China
 Press Statement of the 2nd ASEAN Informal Meeting of Heads of State/Government of the Member States of
ASEAN
 Mahathir Launches Bernama Book on ASEAN

July 20th, 2012

ASEAN Coordinating Council
Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Structure/ASEAN Coordinating Council
The ASEAN Coordinating Council comprises the ASEAN Foreign Ministers. They meet at least twice a year.

Composition of the ASEAN Coordinating Council

ASEAN Community Councils

Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Structure/ASEAN Community Councils
ASEAN Community Councils

The ASEAN Community Councils comprise Council of all the three pillars of ASEAN. Under their purview is the relevant
ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies.

1. Composition of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council

2. Composition of the ASEAN Economic Community Council
3. Composition of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council

Committee of Permanent Representatives

Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Structure/Committee of Permanent Representatives
As stipulated in Article 12 of the ASEAN Charter, each ASEAN Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative
to ASEAN with the rank of Ambassador based in Jakarta.

The Permanent Representatives collectively constitute a Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), which shall:

1. support the work of the ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies;
2. coordinate with ASEAN National Secretariats and other ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies;
3. liaise with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat on all subjects relevant to its work;
4. facilitate ASEAN cooperation with external partners; and
5. perform such other functions as may be determined by the ASEAN Coordinating Council.

Philippines H.E. Amb. Elizabeth P. Buensuceso Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN
The Permanent Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN Jalan Wijaya XVI no. 3-5 Melawai, Kebayoran Baru
H.E. HELLEN BARBER DE LA VEGA Director-General, ASEAN - Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs 2330 Roxas
Boulevard, Passay City, Met

The theme “Partnering for Change Engaging the World” reflects the Philippine government’s advocacy
to promote unity with and among ASEAN member states and its global partners. We invite everyone to
become dynamic and vibrant allies as we envision a future that is prosperous for all citizensro

ASEAN Secretariat
Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Secretariat

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 ASEAN Secretariat’s basic function is to provide for greater efficiency in the coordination of ASEAN organs and for
more effective implementation of ASEAN projects and activities

The ASEAN Secretariat’s vision is that by 2015, it will be the nerve centre of a strong and confident ASEAN Community
that is globally respected for acting in full compliance with its Charter and in the best interest of its people.

The ASEAN Secretariat’s mission is to initiate, facilitate and coordinate ASEAN stakeholder collaboration in realising the
purposes and principles of ASEAN as reflected in the ASEAN Charter.

ASEAN Chair
Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Chair

According to Article 31 of the ASEAN Charter, the Chairmanship of ASEAN shall rotate annually, based on the
alphabetical order of the English names of Member States. A Member State assuming the Chairmanship shall chair the
ASEAN Summit and related summits, the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the three ASEAN Community Councils, relevant
ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and senior officials, and the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

Philippines is the Chair of ASEAN for 2017 and the theme of its ASEAN Chairmanship is “Partnering for Change,
Engaging The World.” For more information on Philippines chairmanship: http://www.asean2017.ph/

Previous Chairs of ASEAN over the years:

Year Chair

2016 Lao PDR

2015 Malaysia

2014 Myanmar

2013 Brunei

2012 Cambodia

2011 Indonesia

2010 Viet Nam

2009 Thailand

2008 Thailand

2007 Singapore

2006 Philippines

2005 Malaysia

2004 Lao PDR

2003 Indonesia

2002 Cambodia
 2001 Brunei Darussalam

2000 Singapore

1999 Philippines

1998 Viet Nam

1997 Malaysia

1996 Indonesia

1995 Thailand

1992 Singapore

1987 Philippines

1977 Malaysia

1976 Indonesia

Secretary-General of ASEAN
Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Secretariat/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 2013 -2017 is H.E. Le Luong Minh from Viet Nam.

Find out more about the Secretary-General of ASEAN from Article 11 of the ASEAN Charter.

Please click here to find out more about H.E. Le Luong Minh.

Please click here to read Speeches & Statements of the Secretary-General of ASEAN

H.E. LE LUONG MINH

H.E. Le Luong Minh was born on 1 September 1952. He is a native of Thanh Hoa, Viet Nam.

Before assuming his post as ASEAN Secretary-General, His Excellency Le Luong Minh was Viet Nam’s Deputy Minister
for Foreign Affairs. He was nominated by the Government of Viet Nam. The ASEAN Leaders endorsed him as ASEAN
Secretary-General for 2013-2017.

From 2004 to 2011, Mr. Minh was Viet Nam’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative
to the United Nations. From August 2007 to December 2008, he was concurrently Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs
and from December 2008 till the end of his tenure in June 2011 concurrently Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Mr Minh has had a long career in Viet Nam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which began in 1975. He was appointed Deputy
Director-General for International Organizations in 1993. In 1995, he was appointed as Ambassador – Permanent
Representative to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva. Two years later, he was
appointed as Ambassador – Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations at Headquarters.

Between December 1999 to December 2002, Mr Minh was Deputy Director-General, then Acting Director-General for
International Organizations in the Foreign Ministry. He became Acting Director-General, then Director-General for
Multilateral Economic Cooperation in the Foreign Ministry (Dec 2002 – Jan 2004).

H.E. Minh studied Diplomacy at the University of Foreign Affairs (now the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam), Hanoi, Viet
Nam, and received his degree in 1974. He then studied Linguistics and English Literature at Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi, India.

Deputy Secretaries-General of ASEAN

Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Secretariat/Deputy Secretaries-General of ASEAN

The Secretary-General of ASEAN shall be assisted by four Deputy Secretaries-General (DSGs). The four DSGs shall be
of different nationalities from the Secretary-General and shall come from four different ASEAN Member States. The DSGs
shall comprise:
  two DSGs are nominated by Member States on a rotational basis for a non-renewable term of three years, and
 two DSGs are openly recruited based on merit for a term of three years, which may be renewed for another three
years.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political Security Community

The DSG APSC supports SG in implementing the APSC Blueprint and strengthening relations with ASEAN Dialogue
Partners and the international community.

Click here for CV of DSG of ASEAN for APSC, H.E. Hirubalan V P (date of commencement: 15 February 2015).

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community

The DSG AEC assists SG in supporting the realisation of the AEC by 2015. He oversees the implementation of the AEC
Blueprint towards the establishment of a Single Market and Production Base, a competitive economic region
characterised by equitable development, and a region that is fully plugged into the global economy.

Click here for CV of DSG of ASEAN for AEC, H.E. Dr. Lim Hong Hin (date of commencement: 10 April 2012).

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

The DSG ASCC supports SG in implementing the ASCC Blueprint. He oversees the implementation of projects under
ASCC that focus on forging a common identity and building a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and where the
well-being, livelihood and welfare of the peoples are enhanced.

Click here for CV of DSG of ASEAN for ASCC, H.E. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee (date of commencement: 12 October
2015).

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs

The DSG CCA assists SG and is responsible for providing strategic direction and guidance on research, public affairs and
outreach programmes for the ASEAN Community. He is also responsible for the implementation of corporate support
functions, including core corporate services and ensuring clear prioritisation and alignment to overall policy objectives.
The DSG CCA will ensure that ASEAN Secretariat has in place the systems, procedures and resources required to fulfil
its mandate.

Former Secretaries-General of ASEAN

Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Secretariat/Former Secretaries-General of ASEAN

Dr. SURIN PITSUWAN

Thailand

1 Jan 2008 to 31 Dec 2012

Please click here to find out more about Dr. Surin Pitsuwan.

Please click here for Speeches & Statements.

 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

 ASEAN Gallery
Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Secretariat/ASEAN Gallery

The ASEAN Gallery was inaugurated on August 8, 2001. It promotes the use of visual arts as a vehicle for promoting aw
of universal ideals as well as the realities we all have to live with. The gallery showcases paintings, sculptures, prints and
indigenous artifacts from South East Asia and around the world. The gallery is divided in three main sections: the ASEA
Chairship Wall, the ASEAN Art, and the Dialogue Partners Art. All Items in the collection were gifted to ASEAN
Secretariat by leaders, Officials and private companies and individuals from ASEAN Member States and Dialogue Partn

Opening hours:Monday to Friday,

10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Closed on Saturday, Sunday & public
holiday.
For information, please call:
(62-21) 7262991 ext. 244 ASEAN Secretariat Resource
Centre (ARC)
Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Secretariat/ASEAN Secretariat Resource Centre (ARC)

The Documentation Centre of the ASEAN Secretariat was set up when the ASEAN Secretariat
was established in June 1976 and began operating in April 1977. The ASEAN Secretariat
Resource Centre (ARC) was then established on 1 November 2006 by the then Secretary-
General Ong Keng Yong.

At present, ARC comprises two main sections: the Library and Archives.

The Library houses and maintains books (ASEAN Secretariat publications and others), journals,
periodicals, newspapers, and audio-visual materials relevant to ASEAN. With a focus on ASEAN,
the collection covers a wide range of issues, from social development, economics, science and
technology, trade, politics, foreign relations, population and culture.

The Archives meanwhile acts as the custodian of ASEAN Treaties, Agreements, Instruments,
Memorandums of Understanding, etc. as well as houses classified ASEAN meeting reports. Due
to the nature of these documents, the ASEAN Meeting Reports and the original documents of
ASEAN Treaties, Agreements, Instruments, MoU, are restricted and accessible only by the staff
of the ASEAN Secretariat. At ARC, public users may only access the copy documents of the
ASEAN Treaties, Agreements, Instruments, MoU.

Public users may also access information on ASEAN Legal Instruments through this link: ASEAN
Legal Instruments, for further information regarding the Instruments you may contact our Legal
Services colleagues.

 The Library is open for Public. Please note that the public may only read the materials in
the collection and borrowing services is not available.
 Internet access/Wi-Fi is available.
 Opening hours: Monday – Friday 09.00 – 16.30.
 We are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

For further information, please call: (62-21) 7262991 ext. 192 or 260. Or email us at: ResourceCe

or 246

ASEAN Foundation

The ASEAN Foundation was established by the ASEAN Leaders in December 1997 during
ASEAN’s 30th Anniversary Commemorative Summit to help bring about shared prosperity
and a sustainable future to all 10 ASEAN Member Countries, namely, Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
and Viet Nam.

The ASEAN Foundation from its inception was given a twin objectives reflected in the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

#ASEAN Heroes : A Glimpse

Story of Samantha - Female
Youth Farmpre
SEAN Centres & Facilities
Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Centres & Facilities

ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (The

AHA Centre)
Jakarta/Indonesia
Established on 17 November 2011

ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)

Jakarta/Indonesia
Established on 4 January 1999ASEAN Centre for the Development of Agricultural
Cooperatives (ACEDAC)
Jakarta/Indonesia
Contact Detail:

ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution

Not yet physically established
Contact Detail: ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE)
Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia
Scheduled to be opened in August 2004
Contact Detail:

ASCOPE SECRETARIAT, PETRONAASEAN Earthquake Information Centre (AEIC)

Jakarta/Indonesia
Established in July 2000ASEAN-EC Management Centre (AEMC)
Bandar Seri Begawan/Brunei Darussalam
Established on 23 July 1991

ASEAN Insurance Training and Research Institute (AITRI)

Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia
Established on 18 December 2002

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)

Manila/Philippines
Established on 27 September 2005

South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN)

Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia

ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat

Bangkok/Thailand

Established inASEAN Political – Security Community

Home/ASEAN Political – Security Community
 ASEAN Charter APSC Blueprint AHRD
APSC Blueprint 2025
and Its Translation

To build on what has been constructed over the years in the field of political and security
cooperation, the ASEAN Leaders have agreed to establish the ASEAN Political-Security
Community (APSC). The APSC shall aim to ensure that countries in the region live at peace with
one another and with the world in a just, democratic and harmonious environment.

The members of the Community pledge to rely exclusively on peaceful processes in the
settlement of intra-regional differences and regard their security as fundamentally linked to one
another and bound by geographic location, common vision and objectives. It has the following
components: political development; shaping and sharing of norms; conflict prevention; conflict
resolution; post-conflict peace building; and implementing mechanisms.

The APSC Blueprint envisages ASEAN to be a rules-based Community of shared values and
norms; a cohesive, peaceful, stable and resilient region with shared responsibility for
comprehensive security; as well as a dynamic and outward-looking region in an increasingly
integrated and interdependent world.

The APSC Blueprint is guided by the ASEAN Charter and the principles and purposes contained
therein. It provides a roadmap and timetable to establish the APSC by 2015. It also leaves room
for flexibility to continue programmes/activities beyond 2015 in order to retain its significance and
have an enduring quality.

The APSC Blueprint was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 14th ASEAN Summit on 1 March
2009 in Cha-am/Hua Hin, Thailand.

SEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response Vientiane, 26 July

2005

The Parties to this Agreement,

REAFFIRMING their commitment to the aims and purposes of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as
set forth in the Bangkok Declaration of 8 August 1967, in particular, to promote regional co-operation in Southeast Asia in
the spirit of equality and partnership and thereby contribute towards peace, progress and prosperity in the region;

REAFFIRMING ALSO the objectives and principles of the Declaration of ASEAN Concord I of 24 February 1976, inter
alia, declaring that within their capabilities Member Countries shall extend assistance for relief of Member Countries in
distress, and the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II of 7 October 2003 where ASEAN shall, through the ASEAN Socio-
Cultural Community, intensify co-operation in addressing problems associated with, inter alia, disaster management in the
region to enable individual members to fully realise their development potentials to enhance the mutual ASEAN spirit;

REAFFIRMING ALSO the provisions of the Vientiane Action Programme 2004-2010 to pursue the comprehensive
integration of ASEAN towards the realisation of an open, dynamic and resilient ASEAN Community by 2020 as envisioned
in the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II through the action plans of the ASEAN Security Community (ASC), the ASEAN
Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) and the Recommendations of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic
Integration;

RECALLING the Declaration on Action to Strengthen Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Prevention in
the Aftermath of the Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster of 26 December 2004, adopted at the Special ASEAN Leaders’
Meeting on the Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami held in Jakarta on 6 January 2005;

RECALLING ALSO the ASEAN Declaration on Mutual Assistance on Natural Disasters of 26 June 1976, which calls on
Member Countries to, inter alia, co-operate in the improvement of disaster management capacities, and in case of
calamities, to extend assistance as may be needed upon the request from an affected Member Country;

RECALLING ALSO the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution of 10 June 2002, which provides the co-
operative framework to prevent, monitor, mitigate and respond to trans-boundary haze pollution in the overall context of
sustainable development;
RECALLING ALSO the ASEAN Agreement for the Facilitation of Search for Aircrafts in Distress and Rescue of Survivors
of Aircraft Accidents of 14 April 1972 and the ASEAN Agreement for the Facilitation of Search of Ships in Distress and
Rescue of Survivors of Ship Accidents of 15 May 1975, which call on ASEAN Member Countries to, inter alia, provide
measures of assistance to aircrafts and ships in distress in their territories and to ensure entry and co-ordination of
qualified personnel required for search and rescue operations;

RECALLING ALSO the Agreement on the ASEAN Food Security Reserve of 4 October 1979, which calls for effective and
concerted effort to establish a food security reserve among ASEAN Member Countries to strengthen national and regional
resilience and solidarity by, inter alia, establishing the ASEAN Emergency Rice Reserve for the purpose of meeting
emergency requirements;

RECALLING ALSO United Nations General Assembly Resolution 59/279 of 19 January 2005 to strengthen emergency
relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster; United Nations
General Assembly Resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 to adopt an integrated approach for disaster management in
all its aspects and to initiate a process towards a global culture of prevention; United Nations General Assembly
Resolution 57/578 of 10 December 2002, which, inter alia, encourages the strengthening of co-operation among States at
the regional and sub-regional levels in the field of disaster preparedness and response with particular respect to capacity-
building at all levels;

RECALLING ALSO the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action set out by the World Conference on
Disaster Reduction in January 2005, which, among others, stress the need to strengthen and when necessary develop
co-ordinated regional approaches, and create or upgrade regional policies, operational mechanisms, plans and
communication systems to prepare for and ensure rapid and effective disaster response in situations that exceed national
coping capacities;

DETERMINED to give effect to the ASEAN Regional Programme on Disaster Management 2004 – 2010, which calls for
the implementation of various project proposals and priority project proposals including the establishment of an ASEAN
Response Action Plan;

CONCERNED by the increasing frequency and scale of disasters in the ASEAN region and their damaging impacts both
short-term and long-term;

CONVINCED that an essential means to achieve suASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports (AMMS)

A. Background

The establishment of an ASEAN Sectoral Body on Sports was first proposed at the 16th ASEAN Summit in Ha Noi, Viet
Nam in April 2010 to promote more active cooperation in sports within ASEAN.

The 18th ASEAN Summit held on 7-8 May 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia endorsed the recommendation to establish an
ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports (AMMS). It is recognised that sports is one of the most effective instruments in
bringing about greater interaction among the ASEAN peoples.

At the 19th ASEAN Summit held on 17 November 2011 in Bali, Indonesia, the ASEAN Leaders reiterated their
commitment to support the AMMS and the initiatives to enhance cooperation in sports and sports-related activities in
order to promote a healthier lifestyle for citizens of ASEAN Member States.

As practiced in ASEAN, the AMMS shall be assisted by senior-level officials through the Senior Officials Meeting on
Sports (SOMS). The SOMS shall have its own Terms of Reference.

B. Objectives:

ch collective a

SEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture & Arts (AMCA)

Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture & Arts (AMCA)

ASEAN is a region of immense and colourful cultural diversity, one that shares common historical threads. ASEAN
Member States promote cooperation in culture to help build an ASEAN identity. They seek to promote ASEAN awareness
and a sense of community, preserve and promote ASEAN cultural heritage, promote cultural creativity and industry, and
engage with the community. ASEAN Leaders envision ASEAN as a community of caring societies, conscious of its ties of
history, aware of its cultural heritage and bound by a common regional identity.

One of the main bodies in ASEAN cooperation in culture is the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (COCI).
Established in 1978, its mission is to promote effective cooperation in the fields of culture through its various projects and
activities. The COCI comprises representatives from national institutions like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministries of
Culture and Information, national radio and television networks, museums, archives and libraries, among others.
Together, they meet once a year to formulate and agree on projects to fulfil their mission.

Activities in the area of culture include the conservation and preservation of cultural heritage, promotion and cooperation
on cultural industry and the production of cultural showcases. To cite some examples, 2009 saw the production of the
coffee table book “Water: A Unifying Force in ASEAN”, a workshop that gathered experts from the region to discuss the
prevention of illicit transfer and illegal trafficking of cultural properties, a symposium involving ASEAN Museum Directors
and their engagement with the community, and the 3rd Best of ASEAN Performing Arts series (Singapore production) to
raise ASEAN awareness about the region’s rich and diverse cultures.
 ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting (ASED)
Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting (ASED)

Education underpins ASEAN community building. Education lies at the core of ASEAN’s development process, creating a
knowledge-based society and contributing to the enhancement of ASEAN competitiveness. ASEAN also views education
as the vehicle to raise ASEAN awareness, inspire the “we feeling”, and create a sense of belonging to the ASEAN
Community and understanding of the richness of ASEAN’s history, languages, culture and common values.

At the 11th Summit in December 2005, ASEAN Leaders set new directions for regional education collaboration when they
welcomed the decision of the ASEAN Education Ministers to convene the ASEAN Education Ministers’ Meetings (ASED)
on a regular basis. The Leaders also called for ASEAN Education Ministers to focus on enhancing regional cooperation in
education.

As the collective entity to enhance regional cooperation in education, the ASEAN Education Ministers identified four
priorities that ASEAN cooperation on education would address, namely: (i) Promoting ASEAN Awareness among ASEAN
citizens, particularly youth; (ii) Strengthening ASEAN identity through education; (iii) Building ASEAN human resources in
the field of education; and (iv) Strengthening ASEAN University Networking. To this end, various projects and activities
have been/are being developed/organised to fulfil the directives.

In recognition of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization’s (SEAMEO) contribution to human resource
development in the region since 1965, the Education Ministers agreed that the existing ASEAN and SEAMEO forums on
education should integrate their respective programmes and activities in a complementary manner. The priorities of
ASEAN cooperation on education would be undertaken through collaboration with SEAMEO.

ASEAN cooperation on education is overseen at the Ministerial level by an ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting – which
meets annually – and the implementation of the programmes and activities for education matters is carried out by the
ASEAN Senior Officials on Education (SOM-ED), which reports to the ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting. SOM-ED also
oversees cooperation on higher education, which is coordinated by the ASEAN University Network (AUN). The AUN was
established to serve as an ASEAN mechanism to (i) Promote cooperation among ASEAN scholars, academicians, and
scientists in the region; (ii) Develop academic and professional human resource in the region; (iii) Promote information
dissemination among the ASEAN academic community; and, (iv) Enhance the awareness of regional identity and the
sense of ‘ASEANness’ among members. Visit the AUN website at www.aun-sec.org.

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment (AMME)

Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment (AMME)

Land Area 4,46 million square kilometres(3% of the world’s total)

ASEAN Forest Cover 2000: 2,089,742 square kilometres2007: 1,904,593 square

kilometres

ASEAN Coastline 173,000 kilometres

ASEAN Peatland Area 25 million hectares60% of global tropical peatland

Population (2011) 604,803,100

Projected Population in 2020 650 million

ASEAN GDP per Capita USD465 – USD37,597

(2008)(range among AMS)

Policy Framework for - ASEAN Vision 2020 (15 December 1997)- ASEAN
Sustainable Development Concord II (7 October 2003)- ASEAN Charter (15
Cooperation in ASEAN (derived December 2008)- Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (1
from) March 2009)

The ASEAN region is endowed with rich natural resources that sustain essential life support systems both for the region
and the world. Apart from providing water, food and energy, these natural resources play an important role in sustaining a
wide range of economic activities and livelihoods.

The region is blessed with a variety of unique ecosystems such as the Mekong River Basin, Ha Long Bay and Lake Toba.
The region has a long coastline, measuring about 173,000 kilometres in total, and is surrounded by major seas and gulfs
such as the South China Sea, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

By virtue of its location in the tropics, ASEAN region is also endowed with abundant freshwater resources. In 2007, the
region had a total capacity of 5,675 billion cubic metres of internal renewable water resources, with Brunei Darussalam,
Lao PDR and Malaysia having the highest per capita water resource availability.

While occupying only 3 per cent of the world’s total land area, the region is renowned for its rich biological heritage,
comprising the three mega biodiversity countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, which together
represent around 80 per cent of global biological diversity. The forest cover in ASEAN is about 45 per cent compared to
the world’s average of 30.3 per cent and it provides the natural habitat for up to 40 per cent of all species on Earth.
In terms of demography, ASEAN is highly populated. In mid 2008, the region had about 580 million people with a density
of 130 people per square kilometre, one of the highest in the world. Population density is especially high in megacities
such as Jakarta and Manila at about 10,000 people per square kilometre, spurred by increasing rural-urban migration and
rapid urbanisation. In 2005, 44 percent of the region’s total population were living in urban areas and this is projected to
increase to 55 percent by 2020.

Increased population, rapid economic growth, combined with the existing and region-wide social inequities among the
ASEAN countries have essentially exerted increasing pressures on the natural resources of the region and brought along
various common or transboundary environmental issues, such as air, water and land pollution, urban environmental
degradation, transboundary haze pollution, and depletion of natural resources, particularly biological diversity. It has also
led to increased consumption of resources and generation of waste, resulting in unsustainable development. Therefore,
despite an abundance of natural resources, ASEAN, as elsewhere, is facing an enormous challenge in keeping a delicate
balance of environmental sustainability and economic development.

Policy and Institutional Framework

Recognising the importance of environmental cooperation for sustainable development and regional integration, ASEAN
has since 1977 cooperated closely in promoting environmental cooperation among its member states. Currently, ASEAN
environmental cooperation focuses on ten priority areas of regional importance as reflected in the Blueprint for the ASEAN
Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC Blueprint) 2009-2015 as follows:

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint 2009-2015

Section D. Ensuring Environmental Sustainability
ASEAN shall work towards achieving sustainable development as well as promoting clean and green environment by
protecting the natural resource base for economic and social development including the sustainable management and
conservation of soil, water, mineral, energy, biodiversity, forest, coastal and marine resources as well as the improvement
in water and air quality for the ASEAN region. ASEAN will actively participate in global efforts towards addressing global
environmental challenges, including climate change and the ozone layer protection, as well as developing and adapting
environmentally-sound technology for development needs and environmental sustainability.

Overview
Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI)/Overview

ASEAN Member States promote cooperation in information to help build an ASEAN identity. One of the main bodies in
ASEAN cooperation in information is the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (COCI). Established in 1978, its
mission is to promote effective cooperation in the fields of information, as well as culture, through its various projects and
activities. The COCI comprises representatives from national institutions like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministries of
Culture and Information, national radio and television networks, museums, archives and libraries, among others.
Together, they meet once a year to formulate and agree on projects to fulfil their mission.

Activities in the information sector involve the development of an ASEAN Computer Game and implementation of the
ASEAN Quiz at national and regional levels in 2009. ASEAN awareness also is raised through the ASEAN-in-Action and
the ASEAN Television News programmes, which involves the exchange of news about the region among radio and
television broadcasters respectively for the last 15 years. ASEAN cooperation in digital broadcasting, including working
towards an analogue switch-off date, is another important activity of the information sector. The visits of ASEAN
journalists to China, India and the Republic of Korea and vice-versa help to establish networking among media practitione

Overview
Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting (ASED)/Overview

Education underpins ASEAN community building. Education lies at the core of ASEAN’s development process, creating a
knowledge-based society and contributing to the enhancement of ASEAN competitiveness. ASEAN also views education
as the vehicle to raise ASEAN awareness, inspire the “we feeling”, and create a sense of belonging to the ASEAN
Community and understanding of the richness of ASEAN’s history, languages, culture and common values.

At the 11th Summit in December 2005, ASEAN Leaders set new directions for regional education collaboration when they
welcomed the decision of the ASEAN Education Ministers to convene the ASEAN Education Ministers’ Meetings (ASED)
on a regular basis. The Leaders also called for ASEAN Education Ministers to focus on enhancing regional cooperation in
education.

As the collective entity to enhance regional cooperation in education, the ASEAN Education Ministers identified four
priorities that ASEAN cooperation on education would address, namely: (i) Promoting ASEAN Awareness among ASEAN
citizens, particularly youth; (ii) Strengthening ASEAN identity through education; (iii) Building ASEAN human resources in
the field of education; and (iv) Strengthening ASEAN University Networking. To this end, various projects and activities
have been/are being developed/organised to fulfil the directives.

In recognition of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization’s (SEAMEO) contribution to human resource
development in the region since 1965, the Education Ministers agreed that the existing ASEAN and SEAMEO forums on
education should integrate their respective programmes and activities in a complementary manner. The priorities of
ASEAN cooperation on education would be undertaken through collaboration with SEAMEO.

ASEAN cooperation on education is overseen at the Ministerial level by an ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting – which
meets annually – and the implementation of the programmes and activities for education matters is carried out by the
ASEAN Senior Officials on Education (SOM-ED), which reports to the ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting. SOM-ED also
oversees cooperation on higher education, which is coordinated by the ASEAN University Network (AUN). The AUN was
established to serve as an ASEAN mechanism to (i) Promote cooperation among ASEAN scholars, academicians, and
scientists in the region; (ii) Develop academic and professional human resource in the region; (iii) Promote information
dissemination among the ASEAN academic community; and, (iv) Enhance the awareness of regional identity and the
sense of ‘ASEANness’ among members. Visit the AUN website at www.aun-sec.org.

Overview
Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM)/Overview

Working Together to Address Complex health Challenges

ASEAN comprises of ten Member States which form a diverse and dynamic region experiencing rapid demographic,
epidemiological and socio-economic growth. These developments also pose a lot of threats and challenges to public
health that health systems of Member States continuously endeavor to address.

Gaps continue to exist between and within countries in the region. In some of the countries, poverty remains the most
important determinant for health status, mainly for marginalized and vulnerable groups, including those living in remote,
isolated, mountainous or island communities. Many countries also face the double burden of disease: non-communicable
diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer are more seen in most countries, while malaria, dengue fever,
tuberculosis, and vaccine preventable diseases and other communicable diseases remain a burden for some countries.

Globalization, trade liberalization and community integration presented developmental opportunities for the region. These
also resulted to rapid urbanization and industrialization, increased migration and travel, mushrooming of mega-cities and
overpopulation, pollution and environmental problems to name a few. The region is also prone to natural diseases and is
increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate change.

As an ASEAN Community, Member States believe that efforts and resources of each national health system geared
towards protecting and improving the health of their peoples will have maximum outcomes when done in a collaborative,
complementary and synergistic manner. Since its establishment in 1980, the ASEAN Health Cooperation has gone a long
way in protecting the region from high-impact public health emergencies such as SARS, HPAI H5N1, 2009 H1N1
pandemic, MERS-CoV, Ebola virus disease and Zika virus, and in collectively engaging with populations in the prevention
and control of specific conditions, such as non-communicable diseases.

The ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). The ASEAN Health cooperation is under
the ASCC pillar.

ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda

Guided by the ASEAN Vision 2025, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 among others, the ASEAN
Health Cooperation adopted the ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda (APHDA) which encapsulates the
shared goals, strategies, prioirities and programmes of the health sector between 2016-2020. There are 42 health
strategic measures in the Blueprint which are related to health and currently being operationalized through the
APHDA. To achieve its vision, mission and goals of the ASEAN Health Cooperation, the Agenda will focus attention and
resources to 20 Health Priorities overseen by four Health Clusters.

 APHDA in a nutshell

ASEAN Health Cooperation Governance and Implementation

The core governance structure is composed of two main governing bodies of ASEAN health development:

 ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting (AHMM) which determines the policies of ASEAN Health and endorses
decisions and reports of SOMHD. It meets every two years, as well as organises special meetings as necessary
to discuss urgent matters.
 Senior Officials’ Meeting on Health Development (SOMHD) which is responsible for strategic management,
and provides guidance on the overall implementation of the APHDA ensuring that all goals and targets are
achieved. It is convened at least once a year, while special or additional meetings may be called to discuss urgent
matters.

To operationalise APHDA, four ASEAN Health Clusters were established. Guided by Work Programmes, each Health
Cluster provides strategic leadership in identifying and implementing regional programmes, projects and initiatives in
selected health priority issues.

ASEAN Health Cluster Work Programmes

 ASEAN Health Cluster 1: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle

 ASEAN Health Cluster 2: Responding to All Hazards and Emerging Threats

ASEAN Health Cluster 3: Strengthening Health Systems and Access to Care Overview
Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (AMRDPE)/Overview

ASEAN’s efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the region continued unabated in the year under
review. At the 14th ASEAN Summit held in Thailand in March 2009, the ASEAN Leaders, in the Joint Declaration on the
Attainment of the MDGs in ASEAN, called for the development of a Roadmap on the MDGs. The Roadmap would serve
as a framework for collective action among ASEAN Member States to achieve the MDGs focusing on five key areas,
namely advocacy and linkages, knowledge, resources, expertise and regional cooperation and regional public goods.

To address the social impacts of the global financial crisis, the High-Level Forum on Reducing Vulnerability in the Face of
Crisis was held in February 2009 at the ASEAN Secretariat. Attended by relevant government officials from the ASEAN
Plus Three Countries and representatives from various international organisations, the Forum came up with a number of
recommendations to be undertaken at both regional and national levels. As a follow up to the Forum, the ASEAN
Assessment on the Social Impact of the Global Financial Crisis will be conducted in the second half of 2009 with the
support of AusAID.

In addressing issues pertaining to rural development and poverty eradication and in narrowing the development gap in the
region, a more concerted effort by Member States in the spirit of “ASEAN Help-ASEAN” has been stressed. Such
initiatives would include documenting best practices and challenges of ASEAN Member States in implementing their
respective policies and programmes on rural development and poverty eradication to facilitate information sharing among
Member States.

Various initiatives carried out under this sector mainly involve promoting community-driven activities and people-to-people
interactions aimed at narrowing the development gap in the region. These include (i) the ASEAN Rural Youth Volunteers
Movement to bring together youth professional volunteers from the region to support rural communities in their
development efforts, (ii) ASEAN Plus Three Village Leaders Exchange Programme in building the capacity of village
leaders among Member States in promoting development in rural areas through building of networks, enhancing
knowledge through study visits and exchanging of experiences, and (iii) the sharing of Thailand’s best practices on the
Baan Mankong Programme, which is a citywide “Cities without Slums” housing development programme, and other grass
roots economic development and poverty alleviation programmes, such the One Tambon One Product (OTOP), Urban
Community and Village Fund (UCVF) and the Sufficiency Economy Fund.


 ASEAN Health Cluster 4: Ensuring Food Safety

Overview
Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD)/Overview

ASEAN recognises that despite its economic achievements, socio-economic disparities still exist. Much work has to be
done to uplift the quality of life of the socially vulnerable groups in the region. In this context, the Declaration of the Bali
Concord II by ASEAN Leaders during the ASEAN Summit of 2003 committed the ASEAN Community to fostering
cooperation in social development aimed at raising the standard of living of disadvantaged groups and the rural
population, and seek the active involvement of all sectors of society, in particular women, youth, and local communities.
ASEAN also puts emphasis on the need to address issues relating to the greying of populations in the region, as the
issues do not only need social responses, but could also have economic implications.

ASEAN cooperation in the area of social welfare and development continues its effort in addressing social risks faced by
children, women, the elderly and persons with disabilities. Under its social welfare and development work programme of
2003 – 2006, ASEAN has completed some activities addressing concerns for older persons, early child care and
development, and people with disability; and in building GO-NGO partnership.

In December 2007, the work programme of the ASEAN cooperation in social welfare and development for 2007 – 2010
was issued. The new work programme highlights three strategies to bring together ASEAN member countries in a
regional context to address social welfare, family and children’s issues. These strategies include capacity building in
human resources, documentation of standards and benchmarks for quality services, and partnership and inter-sectoral
collaboration.

All activities undertaken under the ASEAN cooperation on social welfare and development come under the purview of the
Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD). The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting for Social
Welfare and Development (AMMSWD), which meets once every three years, oversees the overall work under the
cooperation. In addition, under the framework of ASEAN cooperation with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (Plus
Three countries) the ASEAN Plus Three Meeting for Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD+3) was established in
2004. The AMMSWD+3 is convened back-to-back with the AMMSWD and the SOMSWD+3 is convened back-to-back
with the SOMSWD.

ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and
Children (ACWC)
Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD)/ASEAN Commission on the Promotion
and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC)

Press Releases of ACWC Meetings

 The 15th Meeting of The ASEAN Commission on The Promotion and Protection of The Rights of Women and
Children (ACWC), 6-4 September 2017, Phuket, Thailand.
 Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and
Children (ACWC), The ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, 28 Feb – 2 March 2017
 Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and
Children (ACWC), The ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, 16-19 February 2016.
 Eleventh of ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children
(ACWC) Meeting, Makati, Philippines, 18-20 October 2015.
 Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and
Children (ACWC), The ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, 25-27 February 2015.
 Tenth Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women
and Children (ACWC), Yangon, Myanmar, 15 October 2014.
 Ninth Press Release of the ASEAN Commision on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women
and Children (ACWC)
 Eigth Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women
and Children (ACWC), Brunei Darussalam, 27 November 2013
  Seventh Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of
Women and Children (ACWC) Kuala Lumpur, 24 July 2013
 Sixth Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women
and Children (ACWC), Jakarta 3 April 2013
 Fifth Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women
and Children (ACWC), Jakarta, 6 July 2012
 Third Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women
and Children (ACWC), Vientiane, Lao PDR, 18 February 2012
 Second Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of
Women and Children (ACWC), Solo, Indonesia, 8 September 2011
 First Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women
and Children (ACWC), Jakarta, 16 June 2011

Press Releases of Projects and Activities

 ASEAN strengthens efforts to eliminate trafficking in persons

 Fourth Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of
Women and Children (ACWC), 3 May 2012
 Effective Implementation of the Common Issues in CEDAW and CRC with Focus on Girl Child and Right
to Nationality, Da Nang, Viet Nam, 19-22 August 2013
 ACWC Expert Meeting to Develop a Study Framework on Economic Rights of Women to Land and
Property in ASEAN Countries
 ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC)
concludes successful visit to the EU, Brussels, Belgium, 22 February 2013
 ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC)
concludes successful visit to the EU, 22 February 2012
 The ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC)
Joins Hands with Civil Society for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Violence against
Children, 18 January 2012

verview
Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women (AMMW)/Overview

ASEAN leaders recognise and reaffirm the importance of women and their participation in development. ASEAN Member
Countries have been supportive of efforts to promote the status of women and have participated actively in the regional
and international arena pertaining to women’s advancement.

Efforts towards establishing an ASEAN involvement, as a region, in women’s issues began during the ASEAN Women
Leaders’ Conference held in 1975. The ASEAN Sub-Committee on Women (ASW) was established in 1976 and was
renamed the ASEAN Women’s Programme (AWP) in 1981. To give a fresh impetus to the on-going ASEAN cooperation
on women’s issues, this sectoral body was restructured into the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women (AMMW) in 2002.
The coordination and monitoring of the implementation of ASEAN’s key regional priorities and cooperation in women’s
issues and concerns are carried out by the AMMW which meets regularly every year.

The recognition of women in ASEAN and the commitment to the advancement of women are clearly reflected in the
Declaration on the Advancement of Women in ASEAN which was adopted by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in 1988. The
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women in the ASEAN Region, adopted by the ASEAN Foreign
Ministers in 2004, is the second declaration recognising important concerns for women. It also marks the first time that all
ten ASEAN Member Countries are committed to this cause at the regional level.

ASEAN cooperation on women is guided by two operational documents:

a. The Work Plan for Women’s Advancement and Gender Equality (2005-2010), which has its roots in the 1988
Declaration on the Advancement of Women in ASEAN.
b. The Work Plan to Operationalise the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (2006-2010),
which builds on existing national efforts, moves forward the priorities of the other Work Plan and integrates all
relevant priorities and measures into a consolidated action plan on violence against women.

The strong link in government and non-government partnerships is illustrated in, among others, the close partnership
between the AMMW and the ASEAN Confederation on Women’s Organisations (ACWO). The AMMW has also
established close partnerships with a number of key international organisations in working for gender equality and
advancement, and eliminating violence and discrimination against women. These organisations include CIDA, UNDP and
UNIFEM and a framework of cooperation was signed with UNIFEM in 1996.

ASEAN Member Countries have achieved various accomplishments in addressing women’s issues. The AMMW has
convened different regional workshops, seminars, training sessions and consultative meetings that provided platforms for
government officials, civil society organisations, professionals and other stakeholders to exchange views, share
experiences and build commitments and a common understanding on various gender issues.

The ASEAN-High Level Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming within the Context of CEDAW, BPFA and the MDGs which
was held in November 2006 is the most prominent example. During the High Level Meeting, the Joint Statement and
Commitment to Implement Gender Mainstreaming was adopted.

Various publications and periodic regional reports were also produced. These include:

 The Thesaurus on Women in Development (1996);

 The First Regional Report on the Advancement of Women (1997);
  The Second Regional Report on the Advancement of Women (2002);
 The Third Regional Report on the Advancement of Women (200

Overview
Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY)/Overview

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY)

The 12th ASEAN Summit’s Cebu Declaration Towards One Caring and Sharing Community encourages greater
institutional collaboration in promoting ASEAN awareness particularly among the younger generation, and promotes the
increased involvement of ASEAN youth and students in national and regional activities to give them an opportunity to
make valuable contributions towards the achievement of the ASEAN Community. During the Summit, the Leaders agreed
to prepare ASEAN youth for regional leadership and to increase the competitiveness of the peoples of Southeast Asia
through education.

The Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) urges increased participation of youth in the productive workforce, and
encourages their entrepreneurship and employability, leadership and regional awareness. Priorities for youth cooperation
are highlighted in the VAP’s section on the ASCC, under the strategic thrusts for “Building a Community of Caring
Societies”, “Managing the Social Impact of Economic Integration” and “Promoting an ASEAN Identity”.

ASEAN cooperation on youth is overseen at the Ministerial level by an ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth which meets
once every two years. The implementation of the programmes and activities for youth matters is carried out by the ASEAN
Senior Officials on Youth (SOMY), which reports to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY). The last Ministerial
Meeting, the AMMY V, was held in Singapore on 26 April 2007.

Youth cooperation in ASEAN is directed by the Work Programme on Preparing ASEAN Youth for Sustainable
Development, which was considered and adopted during the AMMY IV in September 2003. The Work Programme serves
as the major channel for pursuing ASEAN cooperation in youth development, and outlines the following four priority areas:
(i) Policy Development; (ii) Promoting ASEAN Awareness and Civic Responsibility; (iii) Promoting Employability of Youth,
and (iv) Information Exchange / Promoting Partnership.

Many activities were conducted to implement the Work Programme. The ASEAN Youth Day Meeting (AYDM) and the
ASEAN Youth Day Award were held in past years. The following activities were organised in 2006:

 The 13th AYDM was held in Kuala Lumpur on 6-7 November 2006, incorporating the theme “ASEAN and Young
People”.
 The second phase of the “ASEAN Youth Leadership Development Programme” was organized by Malaysia on
25-29 March 2007, promoting the concept of youth leadership, policy formulation and youth volunteers.
 The “Regional Capacity Building Workshop to Promote Youth-Initiated (ICT) Enterprises” was organized by
Myanmar in Yangon on 7-9 March 2007 and was aimed at facilitating capacity building for government officials
and young entrepreneurs to promote youth entrepreneurship.
 For sharing information, the Youth@ASEAN Website” was set up to link country-based youth websites.
 The Youth Caucus held in Singapore in April 2007, provided the opportunity for youth representatives to present
their discussions to the Ministers on the topics of (i) Education, (ii) Environment, (iii) Employment &
Entrepreneurship, and (iv) Engagement in Community. The inclusion of the Youth Caucus in the AMMY V brought
forth youth perspectives through a dialogue with the Ministers.
 The Plus Three Countries have sponsored youth cooperation with ASEAN mainly in the form of exchanges
activities.

ASEAN Cooperation on Civil Service Matter (ACCSM)

Home/ASEAN Socio - Cultural Community/ASEAN Cooperation on Civil Service Matter (ACCSM

Luang Prabang Joint Declaration on ASEAN Plus Three Civil Service Cooperation
Home/Luang Prabang Joint Declaration on ASEAN Plus Three Civil Service Cooperation

Luang Prabang Joint Declaration on ASEAN Plus Three Civil Service Cooperation

WE, the Heads of Civil Service of Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and
the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (the Plus Three Countries), on the occasion of
our ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM) Plus Three Meeting in Luang Prabang, Lao
People’s Democratic Republic, on 29 October 2010;

RECALLING the initial agreement reached at the inaugural ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters
(ACCSM) Plus Three Meeting in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, on 30 October 2009 to pursue
cooperation on civil service matters;

RECOGNISING the direct responsibility of the ACCSM Plus Three to take an active part in implementing the
ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan (2007 – 2017), particularly in promoting good governance,
enhancing administrative effectiveness, efficiency and transparency through policy dialogue and capacity
building activities;
REAFFIRMING our common belief that civil service cooperation will contribute significantly to strengthening
the foundations of ASEAN Plus Three cooperation, facilitate economic and institutional connectivity, and
promote people-to-people contacts in East Asia;

REAFFIRMING ALSO that civil service cooperation is a key to narrowing the development gaps among
ASEAN Member States and between ASEAN and the Plus Three Countries;

BELIEVING that we have the precious experiences, modern know-how and best practices in civil service
matters that should be shared to benefit all in ASEAN Plus Three Countries;

AND CONVINCED that our civil service cooperation will contribute to strengthening peace and security, as
well as promoting prosperity and social well-being in East Asia and beyond;

THEREFORE WE HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

1. We will meet once every two years to discuss civil service policy issues of common interest;
2. We will explore practical areas of cooperation in line with the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan (2007-
2017), starting with the following:
a. Strengthening E-governance
b. Improving effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and productivity in public sector, and
c. Strengthening human resource management and human resource development
3. We will endeavour to implement civil service cooperation projects and undertake relevant cooperative activities
that will develop best practices in civil service matters to benefit all in ASEAN Plus Three Countries;
4. We will endeavour to mobilise necessary resources and expertise to support timely and efficient
implementation of this Joint Declaration;
5. We will report our progress to the ASEAN Plus Three Summit through ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers
Meeting;
6. We will establish the ACCSM Plus Three Joint Technical Working Group to carry out appropriate follow-up
measures, including formulating a work plan, under our policy guidance;
7. The ACCSM Plus Three Joint Technical Working Group will operate under the rules of procedure to be
determined by the ACCSM Plus Three, and
8. The ASEAN Secretariat will be requested to provide necessary support for the ACCSM Plus Three Joint Technical
Working Group.

ADOPTED by the Heads of Civil Service of Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) and the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (the Plus Three
Countries) on this Twenty-Ninth Day of October in the Year Two Thousand and Ten in Luang Prabang,
Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

May 10th, 2012

Share This ArticleThe ASEAN Economic Community

The formal establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) on 31 December 2015 marks a key milestone in
ASEAN economic integration journey. ASEAN has since embarked on the next phase of its economic integration agenda
for the period of 2016-2025, guided by the AEC Blueprint 2025, which was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 27th
ASEAN Summit on 22 November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The AEC Blueprint 2025 envisions:

1. A highly integrated and cohesive economy;

2. A competitive, innovative and dynamic ASEAN;
3. Enhanced connectivity and sectoral cooperation;
4. A resilient, inclusive, and people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN; and
5. A global ASEAN.

Complementing the AEC Blueprint 2025 is the AEC 2025 Consolidated Strategic Action Plan (CSAP), which was
endorsed by the AEM and AEC Council Ministers on 6 February 2017 and is available to the public. The AEC 2025
CSAP serves as a single reference document to inform stakeholders of the key action lines, drawn from the sectoral work
plans, which will be implemented in pursuit of the ASEAN economic integration agenda from 2016 to 2025. The AEC 2025
CSAP will be periodically reviewed to account for developments in each sector.

The implementation of the AEC Blueprint 2025 and its corresponding sectoral work plans will be supported by effective
and robust monitoring and evaluation. The development of an “enhanced monitoring framework” is envisaged in the AEC
Blueprint 2025:

“The monitoring/tracking of the implementation of strategic measures/action lines in the Blueprint will be conducted by the
ASEAN Secretariat through an enhanced monitoring framework using appropriate approaches and robust methodology.
The impact and outcomes of the AEC Blueprint 2025 will be monitored, including with the support of the ASEAN
Community Statistical System (ACSS)” – AEC Blueprint 2025 Paragraph 82 (vi).
AEC 2025 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

The AEC 2025 Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework was endorsed by ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) at the
48th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting in August 2016 and the AEC Council in September 2016 to help ensure the
timely and effective implementation of the AEC Blueprint 2025.

The objectives of the Framework are to:

1. describe the different components of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2025 Monitoring and Evaluation
(M&E) Framework;
2. serve as a key reference for institutionalising and implementing M&E mechanisms across AEC sectors, and
3. promote sustainability, consistency, and continuity in the AEC 2025 M&E processes.

The AEC 2025 M&E Framework comprises of the following main components: compliance monitoring, outcomes
monitoring, and impact evaluation.

Compliance Monitoring measures implementation progress towards the achievement or delivery of key outputs that are
aligned with the strategic measures in the AEC Blueprint 2025 and relevant AEC sectoral workplans.

Outcomes monitoring refers to periodic assessment of measures or approximation of changes in sectoral or broad
economic indicators as benefits that have resulted from the implementation of the AEC. In the AEC, outcomes are
measured through key performance indicators (KPIs) that are in line with the strategic measures/objectives/goals in the
AEC Blueprint 2025 and SWP as well as the broader economic landscape.

Impact evaluation takes outcomes monitoring one step further by measuring how regional economic integration strategic
vision and goals affect/impact upon the broader socio-economic environment of the ASEAN Member States, as validated
through empirical research/studies/surveys. The overall outcomes monitoring for the AEC Blueprint 2025 will be
coordinated by the ASEAN Integration Monitoring Directorate (AIMD) with inputs from the sectoral bodies.

An important part of the enhanced monitoring framework is improved transparency and stakeholder outreach and
feedback. To this end, the reporting of ASEAN economic integration progress and outcomes will be undertaken and
tailored for a wide-range of audiences. Informed by the M&E activities, the AEC Blueprint 2025 will be reviewed
periodically as decided by the AECC, but not more than every three years, unless otherwise agreed with a view towards
enhancing the level of economic integration in ASEAN.

About ASEAN Integration Monitoring Directorate (AIMD)

“The overall monitoring of (i) implementation of strategic measures and (ii) outcomes and impact of the AEC Blueprint
2025 will be conducted primarily by the ASEAN Secretariat, (specifically the ASEAN Integration Monitoring
Directorate), to support the AEC Council, which is the primary body responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance
of the AEC Blueprint 2025. “– AEC 2025 M&E Framework

The ASEAN Integration Monitoring Directorate (AIMD) is one of the three directorates under the ASEAN Economic
Community Department of the ASEAN Secretariat.

The AIMD is responsible, among others, for spearheading the implementation of regional surveillance and economic
integration monitoring in ASEAN; providing high level policy and technical advice and recommendations to support
ASEAN economic integration initiatives; shaping the economic research and policy analysis programme of ASEAN
Secretariat; ensuring effective information dissemination, communication and reporting on ASEAN economic integration;
and providing in-house capacity development for economic integration monitoring, analysis and research.

The Directorate comprises of four divisions, namely:

1. Monitoring, Surveillance, and Coordination Division

2. Analysis and Monitoring on Trade, Industry & Emerging Issues Division
3. Analysis and Monitoring on Finance & Socio-Economic Issues Division, and
4. Statistics Division (ASEANstats)

The genesis of the AIMD was the Macroeconomic and Finance Surveillance (MFSO), which was set up by the ASEAN
Finance Ministers in 2010. Taking into account relevant developments, the mandate of the MFSO was refocused in 2011
on monitoring ASEAN economic integration, and was renamed as the ASEAN Integration Monitoring Office (AIMO). AIMO
was responsible for managing the AEC 2015 Scorecard.

Effective 1 January 2016, and following endorsement of the ASEC New Structure at the 17 th Meeting of the ASEAN
Coordinating Council, AIMO was regularised as AIMD.

e ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)

The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) has now been virtually established. ASEAN Member Countries have made
significant progress in the lowering of intra-regional tariffs through the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT)
Scheme for AFTA. More than 99 percent of the products in the CEPT Inclusion List (IL) of ASEAN-6, comprising Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, have been brought down to the 0-5 percent
tariff range. [Figure 1]

ASEAN’s newer members, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam, are not far behind in the implementation of
their CEPT commitments with almost 80 percent of their products having been moved into their respective CEPT ILS. Of
these items, about 66 percent already have tariffs within the 0-5 percent tariff band. Viet Nam has until 2006 to bring down
tariff of products in the Inclusion List to no more than 5 percent duties, Laos and Myanmar in 2008 and Cambodia in 2010.

Following the signing of the Protocol to Amend the CEPT-AFTA Agreement for the Elimination of Import Duties on 30
January 2003, ASEAN-6 has committed to eliminate tariffs on 60 percent of their products in the IL by the year 2003. As
of this date, tariffs on 64.12 percent of the products in the IL of ASEAN-6 have been eliminated. The average tariff for
ASEAN-6 under the CEPT Scheme is now down to 1.51 percent from 12.76 percent when the tariff cutting exercise
started in 1993.

The implementation of the CEPT-AFTA Scheme was significantly boosted in January 2004 when Malaysia announced its
tariff reduction for completely built up (CBUs) and completely knocked down (CKDs) automotive units to gradually meet its
CEPT commitment one year earlier than schedule. Malaysia has previously been allowed to defer the transfer of 218 tariff
lines of CBUs and CKDs until 1 January 2005.

Products that remain out of the CEPT-AFTA Scheme are those in the Highly Sensitive List (i.e. rice) and the General
Exception List. The Coordinating Committee on the Implementation of the CEPTScheme for AFTA (CCCA) is currently
undertaking a review of all the General Exception Lists to ensure that only those consistent with Article 9(b)1 of the CEPT
Agreement are included in the lists.

ASEAN Member Countries have also resolved to work on the elimination of non-tariff barriers. A work programme on the
elimination of non-tariff barriers, which includes, among others, the process of verification and cross-notification; updating
the working definition of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs)/Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) in ASEAN; the setting-up of a database
on all NTMs maintained by Member Countries; and the eventual elimination of unnecessary and unjustifiable non-tariff
measures, is currently being finalized.

In an effort to improve and strengthen the rules governing the implementation of the CEPT Scheme, to make the Scheme
more attractive to regional businessmen and prospective investors, the CEPT Rules of Origin and its Operational
Certification Procedures have been revised and implemented since 1 January 2004. Among the features of the revised
CEPT Rules of Origin and Operational Certification Procedures include: (a) a standardized method of calculating
local/ASEAN content; (b) a set of principles for determining the cost of ASEAN origin and the guidelines for costing
methodologies; (c) treatment of locally-procured materials; and (d) improved verification process, including on-site
verification.

In order to promote greater utilization of the CEPTAFTA Scheme, substantial transformation has also been adopted as an
alternative rule in determining origin for CEPT products. The Task Force on the CEPT Rules of Origin is currently working
out substantial transformation rules for certain product sectors, including wheat flour, iron and steel and the 11 priority
integration sectors covered under the Bali Concord II. Direction of Trade ASEAN’s exports had regained its upward trend
in the two years following the financial crisis of 1997- 1998 reaching its peak in 2000 when total exports was valued at
US$ 408 billion. After declining to US$ 366.8 billion in 2001, as a result of the economic slowdown in the United States
and Europe and the recession in Japan, ASEAN exports recovered in 2002 when it was valued at US$ 380.2 billion. The
upward trend for ASEAN-6 continued up to the first two quarters of 2003. Intra-ASEAN trade for the first two quarters of
2003 registered an increase of 4.2 and 1.6 percent for exports and imports respectively. [Figures 2, 3 & 4]

Direction of Trade
ASEAN’s exports had regained its upward trend in the two years following the financial crisis of 1997-1998 reaching its
peak in 2000 when total exports was valued US$ 408 billion. After declining to US$ 366.8 billion in 2001, as a result of the
economic slowdon in the United States and Europe and the recession in Japan, ASEAN expots recovered in 2002 when it
was valued at US$ 380.2 billion. The upward trend for ASEAN-6 continued up to first two quaters of 2003. Intra-ASEAN
trade for the first two quarters of 2003 registered an increase of 4.2 and 1.6 percent for exports and imports respectively.
[Figures 2,3 & 4]

ASEAN Trade with Selected Trading Partners

The United States, the European Union and Japan continued to be ASEAN’s largest export markets. Japan, followed by
the U.S. and EU, were the largest sources of ASEAN imports. During the first half of 2002-2003, ASEAN-6 trade with
major markets as a whole increased by 11.71 percent for exports and 6.91 percent for imports. However, ASEAN exports
to the U.S. and India and imports from Canada and India declined during the same period. [Figure 5]

SEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council

The AIA Council is the Ministerial body under the ASEAN Economic Ministers responsible for overseeing the
implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), ASEAN’s main economic instrument to
realise a free and open investment regime. It is composed of Ministers from the ten Member States responsible for
investment and the Secretary-General of ASEAN.

The Coordinating Committee on Investment (CCI) composed of senior officials responsible for investment and other
officials from other government agencies supports the AIA Council in carrying out its functions.

Free Flow of Investment

A key element to establishing ASEAN as a single market and production base is having a free and open investment
regime where (a) non-discriminatory treatment is extended to ASEAN and ASEAN-based investors, save for limited
exceptions that are also due for progressive elimination; (b) rules and regulations are made transparent; and (c) investors
and their investments (i.e. covered investments) enjoy protection.

ASEAN is achieving these via the implementation of the ACIA, which took effect on 29 March 2012. The ACIA, as one of
the economic instruments for realising regional economic integration, aims to create a liberal, facilitative, transparent and
competitive investment environment in ASEAN.

Comprehensive in scope it covers investment liberalisation, protection, promotion and facilitation. At par with international
best practices it adopts a single negative list approach, extends automatic most-favoured nation treatment to all Member
States, and carries a comprehensive and detailed investor-state dispute settlement mechanism, among others. Forward
looking, it prohibits performance requirements, and contains provision on senior manager and board of directors (SMBD)
to encourage inflow of key foreign managerial and senior management personnel. Comprehensive and integrated in
approach, it revised, merged and improved upon the ASEAN Investment Guarantee Agreement (ASEAN IGA) and
the Framework Agreement on ASEAN Investment Area (AIA Framework Agreement) and provides a clearer interaction of
provisions pertaining to investment liberalisation and protection under a single investment agreement. ACIA supersedes
these two precursor investment agreements (issued in 1987 and 1998, respectively) including their subsequent
amendments.

ASEAN’s task now is to effectively implement the ACIA to ensure that the benefits from the Agreement are realised with
ASEAN and ASEAN-based foreign investors taking advantage of the opportunities that the ACIA provides. ASEAN
through the AIA Council and its subsidiary body (the CCI) has intensified its efforts to support the implementation of the
Agreement cognisant of the importance of the ACIA in keeping ASEAN’s competitive strength vis-à-vis the changing
economic landscape, and in achieving ASEAN’s economic integration goal. It has given focus to: (a) completing the work
pertaining to the build-in agenda items; (b) promoting the ACIA and reaching out to businessmen and investors to create
awareness about the benefits of ACIA; (c) enhancing the capacity of ASEAN and its Member States in implementing the
Agreement; and (d) developing a regional cooperation work programme aimed at supporting the work of ASEAN on
investment liberalization, protection, promotion and facilitation.

Key Developments in the Implementation of ACIA

SEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF)

Home/ASEAN Economic Community/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF)

ASEAN cooperation in the agriculture sector dated back as early as 1968, with cooperation in food production and supply.
In 1977, the scope of cooperation was broadened to include the greater area of agriculture and forestry as the needs have
increased. Currently, the specific areas under the ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry includes food
security, food handling, crops, livestock, fisheries, agricultural training and extension, agricultural cooperatives, forestry
and joint cooperation in agriculture and forest products promotion scheme.

Objective
The basic objective of the ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry is to formulate and implement regional
cooperation activities to enhance the international competitiveness of ASEAN’s food, agriculture and forestry products as
well as further strengthen the food security arrangement in the region and joint positions in international fora.

Mandate and Policy Guidance

In line with the guidance of the Fourth ASEAN Summit in 1992 to strengthen regional cooperation in the areas of
development, production, and promotion of agricultural products, the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry
(AMAF) identified seven priority areas as reflected in the Ministerial Understanding (MU) on ASEAN Cooperation in Food,
Agriculture and Forestry signed in October 1993 in Bandar Seri Begawan. The MU acts as the umbrella of the ASEAN
cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry.

i. Strengthening food security in the region;

ii. Facilitation and promotion of intra- and extra-ASEAN trade in agriculture and forestry products;
iii. Generation and transfer of technology to increase productivity and develop agribusiness and silvo-business;
iv. Agricultural rural community and human resource development;
v. Private sector involvement and investment;
vi. Management and conservation of natural resources for sustainable development; and
vii. Strengthening ASEAN cooperation and joint approaches in addressing international and regional issues.

For the forestry sector, ASEAN, specifically developed five strategic thrusts, namely:

i. Sustainable forest management

ii. Strengthening ASEAN cooperation and joint approaches in addressing international and regional forestry issues
iii. Promotion of intra- and extra-ASEAN trade in forest products and private sector participation
iv. Increasing productivity and efficient utilisation of forest products
v. Capacity building and human resources development.

In response to the sharp increase in international food prices in 2007/2008, the Leaders pledged to embrace food security
as a matter of permanent and high priority policy and adopted a Statement on Food Security in the ASEAN Region, which
commits, among others, to the implementation of the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and the
Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region (SPA-FS) (2009-2013).
Implementation Mechanism

verview
Home/ASEAN Economic Community/ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting (ATM)/Overview

 Transport organs

ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) Meeting, as the highest ASEAN transport body, shall set policy directions in
the transport sector and discuss issues of common interest. The ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting, as
the executive body, shall supervise, coordinate, and review programmes as well as directions set by ASEAN
Transport Ministers.

The existing working groups, namely: ASEAN Air Transport Working Group, ASEAN Land Transport Working
Group, ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group, and ASEAN Transport Facilitation Working Group shall be
continued as the principal coordinating and implementing arms of the ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting
(STOM) in carrying out the various programmes, projects and activities of the sectoral areas as specified in the
ASEAN Transport Strategic Action Plan 2016-2025. Transport bodies which have been established or designed
for specific activity under specific agreements shall also continue their work. The transport organs and the
organizational structure are as follows:

Overview
Home/ASEAN Economic Community/ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting (TELMIN)/Overview

The 3rd Meeting of the ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers (TELMIN), held in September 2003, adopted the
Singapore Declaration – an action agenda to harness technological advances in Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) to create digital opportunities for ASEAN and to enhance ASEAN’s overall competitiveness.

The TELMIN has taken over the technological aspects of the e-ASEAN work programme from the auspices of the ASEAN
Economic Ministers. The Telecommunications Senior Officials Meeting (TELSOM) Working Groups are carrying out the
four objectives of the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement, namely (a) to develop, strengthen and enhance the
competitiveness of the ICT sector; (b) reduce the digital divide within and amongst ASEAN Member Countries; (c)
promote cooperation between the public and private sectors; (d) develop ASEAN Information Infrastructure.

Efforts to establish the ASEAN Information Infrastructure continued with a view to promote interoperability,
interconnectivity, security and integrity. A database of National Information Infrastructure profiles has been created to
encourage competition, rapid deployment of new technology and ICT investment in the region. The Ministers of
Telecommunications and IT decided that all ASEAN Member Countries develop and operationalise national Computer
Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) by 2005 in line with mutually agreed minimum performance criteria. A virtual
forum for ASEAN cybersecurity is being formed to develop a common framework to coordinate exchange of information,
establishment of standards and cooperation among enforcement agencies.

Intra-ASEAN trade and investment in ICT is being enhanced through identification and elimination of impediments,
fostering pro-business policies on ICT trade and investment and establishing regulatory environments which are
transparent, predictable, and non-discriminatory. The ICT products’ list and the tariff reduction schedule have been
updated. Creation of a database of trade and investment policy and regulatory practices is under consideration.

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam have indicated their readiness to implement the first phase of the ASEAN
Telecommunications Regulators
Council Mutual Recognition Arrangements (ATRC MRA) in 2003. Bilateral MRAs were carried out between Brunei and
Singapore and between Indonesia and Singapore. ASEAN continued to develop the e-commerce legal infrastructure to
promote trust and consumer confidence.

ASEAN is building a network of ICT skills competency centers/agencies to promote collaboration amongst these centers
and agencies, including training of ASEAN SMEs to harness the benefits of ICT applications. ASEAN has developed a
Digital Divide Database to promote understanding of the dimensions of the ASEAN digital divide, exchange information on
Universal Service Obligation (USO) schemes and develop joint studies and projects.

An ASEAN-China Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Information and Communications Technology was

signed in October 2003. Among the areas agreed include China’s commitment to utilize its domestic training bases to
provide training for personnel of ASEAN Member Countries. ASEAN and China have agreed to cooperate in developing
MRAs for ICT Skills Certification. Furthermore, China will assist in the construction and development of information
infrastructure such as fixed/mobile communications networks, multimedia applications and Internet in ASEAN Member
Countries.

ASEAN submitted a joint statement to the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva on 10 December
2003, which advocated the following: (a) the global strategy to realize the Information Society must be based on concrete
milestones rather than broad visions; (b) the Plan of Action should be adapted to each region’s unique and diverse needs;
and (c) existing regional initiatives such as e-ASEAN should be leveraged upon when implementing ICT programmes.

Overview
Home/ASEAN Economic Community/ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM)/Overview

Energy is key to the realisation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) that calls for a well-connected ASEAN to drive
an integrated, competitive and resilient region.
The primary energy demand for ASEAN energy is expected to grow by an average of 4.7% per year from 2013 and to
reach 1,685 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2035, according to the 4th ASEAN Energy Outlook (2015). Both
economic and demographic factors drive this energy demand and meeting this successfully will require a balance of
economic and supply security with due regard to social and environmental impacts.

The challenge for ASEAN to sustainably address this growing energy demand ahead of realising the AEC provides the
continuing context for implementing the current ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025 . The
APAEC, which is the blueprint for energy sector cooperation, was endorsed by the 32nd ASEAN Ministers on Energy
Meeting (AMEM) on 23rd September 2014 in Vientiane, Lao PDR and pursues the theme of “Enhancing Energy
Connectivity and Market Integration in ASEAN to Achieve Energy Security, Accessibility, Affordability and Sustainability
for All”.

APAEC is implemented in two phases: Phase I covers the period 2016-2020 and consists of short to medium-term
measures to enhance energy security cooperation and to take further steps towards connectivity and integration. Phase II
covers the period 2021-2025 and will be developed based on the progress of Phase I implementation. The APAEC Mid-
Term Review in 2018 is expected to help guide ASEAN to chart the pathways and directives for Phase II.

The key strategies of the seven Programme Areas of APAEC 2016-2025 Phase I are as follows:

1. ASEAN Power Grid: To initiate multilateral electricity trade in at least one sub-region by 2018.

To enhance connectivity for energy security and accessibility via pipelines and regasification
2. Trans ASEAN Gas Pipeline:
terminals.

3. Coal and Clean Coal Technology: To enhance the image of coal through promotion of clean coal technologies (CCT).

4. Energy Efficiency and

To reduce energy intensity by 20% in 2020 based on 2005 level.
Conservation:

Aspirational target to increase the component of renewable energy to 23% by 2025 in ASEA
5. Renewable Energy:
Energy Mix

6. Regional Energy Policy and

To better profile the energy sector internationally.
Planning:

7. Civilian Nuclear Energy: To build capabilities in policy, technology and regulatory aspects of nuclear energy.

The APAEC 2016-2025 is the third instalment in the APAEC series. The first APAEC was adopted at the 17th AMEM held
on 3 July 1999 in Bangkok, Thailand. Meanwhile, the ASEAN Economic Ministers on Energy Cooperation (precursor to
the AMEM) was inaugurated on 29-30 September 1980. ASEAN began back then by agreeing to implement a framework
for cooperation in energy to enable ASEAN countries to obtain security of supply, whereby AMS work towards lessening
dependence on imported oil and towards accelerating the development of indigenous energy sources and energy
conservation. Implementation of the APAEC continues to evolve amidst an increasingly complex balance of economic,
environmental and social objectives.

Overview
Home/ASEAN Economic Community/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (AMMST)/Overview

Science, technology and innovation (STI) can be powerful determinants and enablers of economic development,
educational programmes and protection of the environment. This view is shared by the ASEAN Leaders who have
recognised science and technology (S&T) as a key factor in sustaining economic growth, enhancing community well-
being and promoting integration in ASEAN. The Leaders have envisioned that by 2020 that ASEAN will be technology
competitive, competent in strategic and enabling technologies, with an adequate pool of technologically qualified and
trained manpower, and strong networks of scientific and technological institution and centres of excellence.

To push forward to build a strong S&T base for ASEAN as a single integrated economy, and to ensure ASEAN to remain
globally competitive, ASEAN Member Countries have to move up the technology ladder and focus on enhancing their
capability for technological innovation in many areas. This task, however, is not easy as ASEAN, a grouping of ten
developing countries with great variance in the level of science and technology capability, has to move the cooperation
forward more vigorously and promote deeper integration. ASEAN must also promote greater awareness of its people of
the S&T activities and its roles and contributions towards sustainable economic development and provide ways and
means to innovate. The involvement of specific elements in ASEAN community such as private sector in S&T
undertakings, especially in research and technology development and commercialisation of technologies must also be
promoted.

To ensure that the S&T cooperation in ASEAN remains relevant and supportive to the directives of the ASEAN Leaders
and S&T Ministers, a series of ASEAN Plans of Action in Science and Technology (APASTs) have been developed since
the establishment of Committee on Science and Technology (COST) in 1978. The most recent Plan: The Action Plan of
Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2016-2025 was endorsed by the ASEAN Ministers for Science
and Technology at the 16thASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (AMMST) held on 6 November 2015 in
Vientiane, Lao PDR. The APASTI 2016-2025 provides strategic direction of COST in implementing the programmes/
activities focusing on public-private collaboration, talent mobility, people-to-people connectivity and inclusiveness,
enterprise support, and public awareness and STI enculturation. The Plan, which identifies six goals, four thrusts and
fifteen supporting actions, will essentially provide appropriate guidelines for identification and formulation of programmes
and projects to achieve better coordination and cooperation to strengthen the capabilities of STI in ASEAN. The APASTI
2016-2025 is accompanied by an implementation plan that includes the priorities; targets/deliverables; specific actions;
timelines; indicators, derived from the work plan of the nine Sub-Committees of COST. The APASTI Implementation Plan
was adopted by the ASEAN Ministers for Science and Technology at the 9 th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on
Science and Technology (IAMMST) held on 29 October 2016 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The STI cooperation in ASEAN focuses on nine programme areas, namely (i) biotechnology, (ii) food science and
technology, (iii) marine science and technology, (iv) material science and technology, (v) meteorology and geophysics, (vi)
microelectronics and information technology, (vii) space technology and applications, (viii) sustainable energy research,
and (ix) S&T infrastructure and resources development. The coordination and implementation of activities in each area is
handled by a dedicated Sub-Committee of COST.

The organisational chart of ASEAN S&T cooperation is shown as follows:

verview
Home/ASEAN Economic Community/ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM)/Overview

Energy is key to the realisation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) that calls for a well-connected ASEAN to drive
an integrated, competitive and resilient region.

The primary energy demand for ASEAN energy is expected to grow by an average of 4.7% per year from 2013 and to
reach 1,685 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2035, according to the 4th ASEAN Energy Outlook (2015). Both
economic and demographic factors drive this energy demand and meeting this successfully will require a balance of
economic and supply security with due regard to social and environmental impacts.

The challenge for ASEAN to sustainably address this growing energy demand ahead of realising the AEC provides the
continuing context for implementing the current ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025 . The
APAEC, which is the blueprint for energy sector cooperation, was endorsed by the 32nd ASEAN Ministers on Energy
Meeting (AMEM) on 23rd September 2014 in Vientiane, Lao PDR and pursues the theme of “Enhancing Energy
Connectivity and Market Integration in ASEAN to Achieve Energy Security, Accessibility, Affordability and Sustainability
for All”.

APAEC is implemented in two phases: Phase I covers the period 2016-2020 and consists of short to medium-term
measures to enhance energy security cooperation and to take further steps towards connectivity and integration. Phase II
covers the period 2021-2025 and will be developed based on the progress of Phase I implementation. The APAEC Mid-
Term Review in 2018 is expected to help guide ASEAN to chart the pathways and directives for Phase II.

The key strategies of the seven Programme Areas of APAEC 2016-2025 Phase I are as follows:

1. ASEAN Power Grid: To initiate multilateral electricity trade in at least one sub-region by 2018.

To enhance connectivity for energy security and accessibility via pipelines and regasification
2. Trans ASEAN Gas Pipeline:
terminals.

3. Coal and Clean Coal Technology: To enhance the image of coal through promotion of clean coal technologies (CCT).

4. Energy Efficiency and

To reduce energy intensity by 20% in 2020 based on 2005 level.
Conservation:

Aspirational target to increase the component of renewable energy to 23% by 2025 in ASEA
5. Renewable Energy:
Energy Mix

6. Regional Energy Policy and

To better profile the energy sector internationally.
Planning:

7. Civilian Nuclear Energy: To build capabilities in policy, technology and regulatory aspects of nuclear energy.

The APAEC 2016-2025 is the third instalment in the APAEC series. The first APAEC was adopted at the 17th AMEM held
on 3 July 1999 in Bangkok, Thailand. Meanwhile, the ASEAN Economic Ministers on Energy Cooperation (precursor to
the AMEM) was inaugurated on 29-30 September 1980. ASEAN began back then by agreeing to implement a framework
for cooperation in energy to enable ASEAN countries to obtain security of supply, whereby AMS work towards lessening
dependence on imported oil and towards accelerating the development of indigenous energy sources and energy
conservation. Implementation of the APAEC continues to evolve amidst an increasingly complex balance of economic,
environmental and social objectives.

SEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin)

Home/ASEAN Economic Community/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin)

 Established in 2005
 Meets at least once in three years
 Last Meeting : Inaugural AMMin, Kuching, Malaysia, 4 August 2005
For 2016, ASEAN is expected to welcome 116 million international visitors, a growth of 6.5 per cent from 2015. The
arrivals were dominated by intra-ASEAN travel, accounting for 43 per cent of total international arrivals in 2015, followed
by Asia (excluding ASEAN) at 36 per cent. With strong commitment of ASEAN Member States and partners, ASEAN is
confident to exceed the target of 121 million international tourist arrivals to the region in 2017.

In commemorating the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN in 2017, Visit ASEAN@50 Golden Celebration Campaign was
launched by the ASEAN Tourism Ministers to jointly showcase the region’s rich diversity and promote ASEAN as a single
tourism destination. Visit ASEAN@50 campaign will provide ASEAN travel deals and multi-country packages ranging from
2 to 26 nights created by leading tour operators and cruise lines in Southeast Asia to entice travellers to visit the region. A
Visit ASEAN@50 microsite (www.visitasean50.com) was launched in early November 2016. Several international partners
have also pledged support for the Campaign, including, among others, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), ASEAN-Japan
Centre (AJC), ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC), ASEANTA, AirAsia, Mastercard, TTG, and GoASEAN.

On 8 & 9 August 2016, the International Conference on Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals
(MRA-TP) was held in Jakarta addressing a wide range of topics on the MRA-TP initiative, namely expansion of the MRA-
TP, usage of English as a basic communication, facilitate and support potential participation of training and educational
institutions, and strengthening collaboration amongst industries, training and educational institutions, and governments.
Furthermore, the ASEAN Tourism Professionals Registration System (ATPRS), www.atprs.org, a web-based portal to
facilitate the registration of tourism professionals and MRA-TP related stakeholders and serve as a matchmaking
mechanism between tourism professionals and their potential employers, was officially launched during the International
Conference.

At the ASEAN Homestay Award Ceremony 2017, organised on 20 January 2017, a total of 28 homestay establishments
in the region were honored with the Awards for their efforts in increasing the quality of services, facilities and human
capital in their homestay programmes taking into consideration the needs, capability and cultural diversity of ASEAN
Member States. At the same time, during the first ASEAN Community Based Tourism (CBT) Award Ceremony, as much
as 26 CBT Committees received the Awards for the coordinated management of tourism products offered by communities
under the organisation of their committees. In addition, the ASEAN Public Toilet Award Ceremony, the ASEAN Clean
Tourist City Award Ceremony, the ASEAN Spa Services Award Ceremony, and the ASEAN MICE Venue Award
Ceremony will altogether be held for the first time in 2018.

Promotion and marketing of ASEAN tourism were conducted through websites, events, social media marketing, public
relations and partnerships with the private sector and ASEAN centres. ASEAN Tourism website
(www.aseantourism.travel) is enhanced continuously and “ASEAN for ASEAN” activities are carried out regularly by
ASEAN Member States.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2017 held on 16-20 January 2017 in Singapore, with the theme “Shaping our Tourism
Journey Together” was attended by 324 buyers and 355 exhibitors. The ATF 2018 (http://atfthailand2018.com) will be
held on 22-26 January 2018 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with the theme “ASEAN – Sustainable Connectivity, Boundless
Prosperity”.

 ASEAN Tourism Website

 ASEAN Tourism Professional Registration System

ASEAN Tourism AssociationOverview

Home/ASEAN Economic Community/Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and Narrowing the Development Gap (NDG)/Overview

Background

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations came into being on 8 August 1967 with five founding nations – Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN in 1984, while Viet Nam entered
ASEAN in 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar in 1997 and Cambodia in 1999.

The entry of the latter four member states into ASEAN raised concerns over the possible emergence of a “two-tier
ASEAN.” This “development gap” is manifested not only in the difference between the average per capita income of the
six older ASEAN member states and that of the newer four, but also in terms of human resources, institutional capacity,
the state of the infrastructure and the level of competitiveness.

Against this backdrop, the ASEAN Heads of State/Government, at their Summit meeting in November 2000 in Singapore,
adopted a special programme for narrowing the development gap, calling it the “Initiative for ASEAN Integration” or “IAI”.
Following through on the Leaders’ decision, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers adopted at their annual meeting in July 2001,
the Ha Noi Declaration on Narrowing the Development Gap for Closer ASEAN Integration. The declaration expressed the
ASEAN members’ resolve to “promote, through concerted efforts, effective cooperation and mutual assistance to narrow
the development gap among ASEAN members and between ASEAN and the rest of the world,” with infrastructure, human
resource development, information and communications.

The ASEAN Leaders in their 2003 Declaration of the ASEAN Concord (Bali Concord II) stressed that the deepening and
broadening of ASEAN integration shall be accompanied by technical and development cooperation to address the
development divide and accelerate the economic integration of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV)
through the road map for the integration of ASEAN to enable all member states to move forward in a unified manner and
that the benefits of ASEAN integration are shared. In this regard, the Vientiane Action Programme 2004-2010, a medium-
term development plan to realise ASEAN Vision 2020, highlighted the strategic importance of narrowing the development
gap to realise the ASEAN Community and that the IAI be strengthened to address the needs of CLMV.

IAI Work Plan III

The IAI Work Plan III (2016-2020) was adopted by Leaders at the 28th ASEAN Summit in September 2016 as an integral
part of the ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together to support the implementation of the three Community Blueprints. The
Work Plan is designed to assist CLMV countries to meet ASEAN-wide targets and commitments towards realising the
goals of the ASEAN Community. It consists of five strategic areas, namely food and agriculture, trade facilitation,
MSMEs, education, and health and well-being. The actions are closely aligned with the ASEAN Community Blueprints
2025 and relevant ASEAN sectoral work plans. A copy of the IAI Work Plan III can be downloaded here.

IAI Task Force

The IAI Task Force comprising of the ten Permanent Representatives to ASEAN provides policy guidance and directions
in the development and implementation of the IAI Work Plan. The Chair of the IAI Task Force serves a term of one year
and rotates according to alphabetical order among the CLMV countries. The IAI Task Force reports to the ASEAN
Coordinating Council.

Secretariat

The IAI&NDG Division of the ASEAN Secretariat serves as secretariat to the IAI Task Force as well as assists in the
monitoring and coordination of the IAI Work Plan’s implementation.

IAI and NDG Fact Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information on the Initiative for ASEAN Integration and its activities, please contact the IAI & NDG Division at
email: IAI@asean.org

Free Trade Agreements with Dialogue Partners

Home/ASEAN Economic Community/Free Trade Agreements with Dialogue Partners

ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area

A. Agreements

B. Statements and Press Releases

C. AANZFTA Website

D. Contact us
ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreements

A. Agreements

B. Memorandum of Understanding

C. Tariff Reduction Schedules

D. Statement and Press Releases

E. Economic Cooperation Projects

F. Contact us

ASEAN-India Free Trade Area

A. Agreements

B. Statements and Press Releases

C. Contact us

ASEAN – Japan Free Trade Area

A. Agreements

B. Statements and Press Release

C. AJCEP Website
D. Contact us

ASEAN-Republic of Korea Free Trade Area

A. Agreements

B. Tariff Reduction Schedule

C. Statements and Press Releases

D. AKFTA Website

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Home/Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

ABOUT

Countries in East Asia region have thriving

trade and economic relations with each other through free trade agreements. The Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) has free trade agreements with six partners namely People’s Republic of China (ACFTA),
Republic of Korea (AKFTA), Japan (AJCEP), India (AIFTA) as well as Australia and New Zealand
(AANZFTA).

In order to broaden and deepen the engagement among parties and to enhance parties’ participation in economic
development of the region, the leaders of 16 participating countries established the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP). The RCEP was built upon the existing ASEAN+1 FTAs with the spirit to
strengthen economic linkages and to enhance trade and investment related activities as well as to contribute to
minimising development gap among the parties.

In August 2012, the 16 Economic Ministers endorsed the Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The RCEP negotiations were launched by Leaders from 10
ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam) and six ASEAN FTA partners (Australia, People’s Republic of
China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and New Zealand) during the 21st ASEAN Summit and Related
Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November 2012.

The objective of launching RCEP negotiations is to achieve a modern, comprehensive, high-quality, and
mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement among the ASEAN Member States and ASEAN’s FTA
partners. The RCEP negotiations commenced in early 2013.

COVERAGE AREAS

The RCEP negotiation includes: trade in goods, trade in services, investment, economic and technical
cooperation, intellectual property, competition, dispute settlement, e-commerce, small and medium enterprises
(SMEs) and other issues.

WHAT RCEP MEANS FOR BUSINESSES

RCEP has the potential to deliver significant opportunities for businesses in the East Asia region, given the fact
that the 16 RCEP participating countries account for almost half of the world’s population; contribute about 30
per cent of global GDP and over a quarter of world exports. RCEP will provide a framework aimed at lowering
trade barriers and securing improved market access for goods and services for businesses in the region, through:

 Recognition to ASEAN Centrality in the emerging regional economic architecture and the interests of ASEAN’s
FTA partners in enhancing economic integration and strengthening economic cooperation among the
participating countries;

 Facilitation of trade and investment and enhanced transparency in trade and investment relations between the
participating countries, as well as facilitation of SMEs’ engagements in global and regional supply chains; and

 Broaden and deepen ASEAN’s economic engagements with its FTA partners.

RCEP recognises the importance of being inclusive, especially to enable SMEs leverage on the agreement and
cope with challenges arising from globalisation and trade liberalisation. SMEs (including micro-enterprises)
make up more than 90% of business establishments across all RCEP participating countries and are important to
every country’s endogenous development of their respective economy. At the same time, RCEP is committed to
provide fair regional economic policies that mutually benefit both ASEAN and its FTA partners.

LINKS

Official RCEP Information

 Guiding Principles
 Joint Statements
o Nov 2017
o Sep 2016
o Nov 2015
o Nov 2012
 Joint Media Statements
o Sep 2017
o May 2017
o Nov 2016
o Aug 2015
o Aug 2014
o Aug 2013

ASEAN+1 FTAs

 ASEAN – Australia New Zealand Free Trade Area

 ASEAN – China Free Trade Area
 ASEAN – India Free Trade Area
 ASEAN – Japan Free Trade Area
 ASEAN – Republic of Korea Free Trade Area

For enquiries about Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), click here

October 3rd, 2016

Share This Article

What is ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework?

The ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) is a common reference framework that enables comparisons of
education qualifications across participating ASEAN Member States (AMS).

The objectives of AQRF include:

 Support recognition of qualifications

 Encourage the development of qualifications frameworks that can facilitate lifelong learning
 Encourage the development of national approaches to validating learning gained outside formal education
 Promote and encourage education and learner mobility
 Support worker mobility
 Improve understanding of qualifications systems
 Promote higher quality qualifications systems

The AQRF developed is based on agreed understanding between AMS. By design, it aims to have a neutral influence on
national qualifications frameworks (NQF) of participating AMS. AMS are invited to participate in AQRF on voluntary
engagement and implementation. More important, engagement in AQRF does not require changes to national
qualifications systems (NQS). AQRF respects the specific structures and processes of participating AMS to maintain their
responsiveness to national priorities.

The AQRF was endorsed by the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) in August 2014; the ASEAN Education Ministers
(ASED) in September 2014; and the ASEAN Labour Ministers (ALMM) through ad-referendum from November 2014 to
May 2015.

Subsequently, the AQRF Governance and Structure document was endorsed by ALMM and ASED in May 2016, and
AEM in August 2016, and provided the basis for the establishment of the AQRF Committee to implement the AQRF.

Referencing to AQRF

Referencing is a process that establishes the relationship between the eight-level AQRF and NQF or qualifications system
of participating AMS; and the number of levels an NQF may differ, and typically between 8 and 9 levels. AQRF would
therefore improve the understanding of the qualification of each level of a NQF or qualifications system of the participating
AMS. AQRF also works as an information tool to facilitate the recognition of qualifications and does not replace the
decision-making process of the competent authorities in each AMS.

In the long-term, AQRF could potentially serve as a meta-framework to support the recognition of its levels against other
Regional Qualifications Framework (RQF) and inter-regional recognition. Interested AMS can choose to begin referencing
according to their readiness.

How does AQRF support NQF?

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Association of
Southeast Asian Nations[show]

Flag
 Emblem

Motto: "One Vision, One Identity, One Community"[1]

Anthem: "The ASEAN Way"

MENU

0:00

Secretariat Jakartaa
6°12′S 106°49′E

Working language English[2]

Official languages
10 languages[show]
of contracting states

Membership
10 states[show]

2 observers[show]

Leaders

• Chairman Lee Hsien Loong

• Secretary General Le Luong Minh[3]

Establishment

• Bangkok Declaration 8 August 1967

• Charter 16 December 2008

Area

• Total 4,435,618[4] km2(1,712,602 sq mi)

Population

• 2013 estimate 639 million[5][4]

• Density 141/km2(365.2/sq mi)

GDP (PPP) 2014 estimate

• Total US$7.6 trillion[6]

• Per capita US$12,160[6]

GDP (nominal) 2015 estimate

• Total US$2.8 trillion[6]

• Per capita US$4,160[6]

HDI (2016) 0.684b

 medium

Time zone ASEAN(UTC+6:30 to +9)

Website
www.asean.org

a. Address: Jalan Sisingamangaraja No.70A, South Jakarta.[7]

b. Calculated using UNDP data from member states.

ASEAN members' flags in their headquarters in Jakarta

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations[8] (ASEAN /ˈɑːsi.ɑːn/ AH-see-ahn,[9] /ˈɑːzi.ɑːn/ AH-zee-ahn)[10][11] is
a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising ten Southeast Asian states which promotes Pan-Asianism and
intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational and socio-
cultural integration amongst its members and Asian states. Since its formation on 8 August 1967
by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand,[12] the organisation's membership has expanded to
include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Its principal aims include accelerating economic
growth, social progress, and sociocultural evolution among its members, alongside the protection of regional stability
and the provision of a mechanism for member countries to resolve differences peacefully.[13][14] ASEAN is an
official United Nations Observer.[15][16] Communication by members across nations takes place in English.
ASEAN covers a land area of 4.4 million square kilometres, 3% of the total land area of Earth. ASEAN territorial
waters cover an area about three times larger than its land counterpart, making it particularly important in terms of
sea lanes and fisheries. Member countries have a combined population of approximately 640 million people, 8.8%
of the world's population, more than EU28, though in terms of land, a bit smaller. In 2015, the organisation's
combined nominal GDP had grown to more than USD $2.8 trillion. If ASEAN were a single entity, it would rank as
the sixth largest economy in the world, behind the USA, China, Japan, France and Germany.[6] ASEAN shares land
borders with India, China, Bangladesh, East Timor and Papua New Guinea, and maritime borders with India,
China, Palauand Australia. Both East Timor and Papua New Guinea are backed by certain ASEAN members for
their membership in the organisation.
ASEAN has established itself as a platform for Asian integrations and cooperations, working with other Asian
nations to promote unity, prosperity, development and sustainability of the region, as well as working on solutions to
resolve disputes and problems in the region. While mainly focusing on the Asia-Pacific nations, ASEAN also
established communications with other parts of the world, to better promote world peace and stability. The
organisation has a global reputation of promoting goodwill and diplomacy among nations, shutting out any opinion or
decision considered biased and carrying the principle of non-interference.[17][18][19][20][21][22]
Because of its global influence and regional success, ASEAN has been credited as one of the world's most
successful and influential organisations, and an "emerging powerhouse". The organisation is dubbed as the
centrality in the political, economic, security and socio-cultural architecture of Asia-Pacific. It is lauded as the "best-
established intergovernmental institution in Asia" while receiving high approval ratings in its own region, and is one
of the biggest players on the global stage.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]

Contents
[hide]

Purpose[edit]
As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:[34]

 To accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region.
 To promote regional peace.
 To promote collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest.
 To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities.
 To collaborate for the better utilisation of agriculture and industry to raise the living standards of the people.
 To promote Southeast Asian studies.
 To maintain close, beneficial co-operation with existing international organisations with similar aims and
purposes.[35]

History[edit]
See also: Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Wikisource has original

text relatd to this article:

Bangkok Declaration
The member states of ASEAN

Myanmar

Laos

Vietnam

Thailand

Cam-
bodia

Philippines

Brunei

Malaysia

Malaysia

Singapore

I n d o n e s i a

Foundation[edit]
ASEAN was preceded by an organization formed in 31 July 1961 called the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA),
a group consisting of the Philippines, Federation of Malaya, and Thailand. ASEAN itself was created on 8 August
1967, when the foreign ministers of five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand,
signed the ASEAN Declaration, more commonly known as the Bangkok Declaration.
The creation of ASEAN was motivated by a common fear of communism,[36] and a thirst for economic development.
ASEAN grew when Brunei Darussalam became its sixth member on 7 January 1984, barely a week after gaining
independence.[37]
Expansion and further integration[edit]
See also: Enlargement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

A clickable Euler diagram showing the relationships between various Asian regional organisationsv • d • e

ASEAN achieved greater cohesion in the mid-1970s following the changed balance of power in Southeast Asia after
the end of the Vietnam War. The region's dynamic economic growth during the 1970s strengthened the
organization, enabling ASEAN to adopt a unified response to Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia in 1979. ASEAN's
first summit meeting, held in Bali, Indonesia in 1976, resulted in an agreement on several industrial projects and the
signing of a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, and a Declaration of Concord. The end of the Cold War between the
United States and the Soviet Union at the end of the 1980s allowed ASEAN countries to exercise greater political
independence in the region, and in the 1990s ASEAN emerged as a leading voice on regional trade and security
issues.[38]
In 1987, Brunei became ASEAN's sixth member[39] and on 28 July 1995, Vietnam became ASEAN's seventh
member.[40] Laos and Myanmar (Burma) joined two years later on 23 July 1997.[41] Cambodia was to have joined at
the same time as Laos and Burma, but its entry was delayed due to the country's internal political struggle. It later
joined on 30 April 1999, following the stabilization of its government.[41][42]
In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of an East Asia Economic Caucus[43] composed of the 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 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and in the Asian region as a
whole.[44][45] However, the proposal failed because of heavy opposition from the US and Japan.[44][46] 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 adopted as a schedule for phasing out tariffs
with the 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 (AFTA). AFTA is an agreement by member
nations concerning local manufacturing in ASEAN countries. The AFTA agreement was signed on 28 January 1992
in Singapore.[47]
After the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, a revival of the Malaysian proposal, known as the Chiang Mai
Initiative, was put forward in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It called for better integration of the economies of ASEAN as well
as the ASEAN Plus Three countries, China, Japan, and South Korea.
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 had ratified it. It became fully
effective on 21 June 2001 after the Philippines ratified it, effectively banning all nuclear weapons in the region.[48]
Charter[edit]
Main article: ASEAN Charter
The Secretariat of ASEAN at Jalan Sisingamangaraja No.70A, South Jakarta, Indonesia

On 15 December 2008, the members of ASEAN met in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta to launch a charter, signed
in November 2007, with the aim of moving closer to "an EU-style community".[49] The charter turned ASEAN into a
legal entity and aimed to create a single free-trade area for the region encompassing 500 million people. President
of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated: "This is a momentous development when ASEAN is consolidating,
integrating, and transforming itself into a community. It is achieved while ASEAN seeks a more vigorous role in
Asian and global affairs at a time when the international system is experiencing a seismic shift". Referring to climate
change and economic upheaval, he concluded: "Southeast Asia is no longer the bitterly divided, war-torn region it
was in the 1960s and 1970s".
The 2008 global financial crisis was seen as being a threat to the goals envisioned by the charter,[50] and also set
forth the idea of a proposed human rights body to be discussed at a future summit in February 2009. This
proposition caused controversy, as the body would not have the power to impose sanctions or punish countries
which violated citizens' rights and would therefore be limited in effectiveness.[51] The body was established later in
2009 as the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). In November 2012, the commission
adopted the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.[52]
The ASEAN Way[edit]
The 'ASEAN Way' refers to a methodology or approach to solving issues that respects the cultural norms of
Southeast Asia. Masilamani and Peterson summarise it as:
A working process or style that is informal and personal. Policymakers constantly utilize compromise, consensus,
and consultation in the informal decision-making process... it above all prioritizes a consensus-based, non-
conflictual way of addressing problems. Quiet diplomacy allows ASEAN leaders to communicate without bringing
the discussions into the public view. Members avoid embarrassment that may lead to further conflict.[53]
It has been said that the merits of the ASEAN Way might "be usefully applied to global conflict management".
However, critics have argued that such an approach can be only applied to Asian countries to specific cultural
norms and understandings notably due to a difference in mindset and level of tension.[54]:pp113-118
Critics object claiming that the ASEAN Way's emphasis on consultation, consensus, and non-interference, forces
the organisation to adopt only those policies which satisfy the lowest common denominator. Decision making by
consensus requires members to see eye-to-eye before ASEAN can move forward on an issue. Members may not
have a common conception of the meaning of the ASEAN Way. Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos emphasise non-
interference while older member countries focus on co-operation and co-ordination. These differences hinder efforts
to find common solutions to particular issues, but also make it difficult to determine when collective action is
appropriate in a given situation.[55]:161-163
ASEAN Plus Three[edit]

The 16 member countries of the RCEP

Blue: ASEAN
Purple: ASEAN Plus Three
Teal: ASEAN Plus Six

The leaders of each country felt the need to further integrate the nations in the region. Beginning in 1997, the bloc
started creating organisations with the intention of achieving this goal. "ASEAN Plus Three" was the first of these
and was created to improve existing ties with the People's Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea. This was
followed by the even larger East Asia Summit (EAS), which included ASEAN Plus Three countries as well as India,
Australia, New Zealand. This new group acted as a prerequisite for the planned East Asia Community which was
supposedly patterned after the now-defunct European Community. The ASEAN Eminent Persons Group was
created to study the possible successes and failures of this policy as well as the possibility of drafting an ASEAN
Charter.
In 2006, ASEAN was given observer status at the United Nations General Assembly.[56] In response, the
organisation awarded the status of "dialogue partner" to the UN.[57]
ASEAN Plus Six[edit]
ASEAN became ASEAN Plus Six with additional countries: Australia, New Zealand and India. Codification of the
relations between these nations has seen progress through the development of the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP), a proposed free-trade agreement involving the 16 countries of ASEAN plus six.
RCEP would, in part, allow the members to protect local sectors and give more time to comply with the aim for
developed country members.[58]

Economy[edit]

Selection of GDP PPP data (top 10 countries and blocks) in no particular order

Overview [edit]
ASEAN is built on three pillars:[8] the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC),[59] the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC),[60] and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).[61]
ASEAN sought economic integration by creating the AEC by the end of 2015. This established a common
market.[62] The average economic growth of ASEAN's member nations during 1989–2009 was between 3.8% and
7%. This economic growth was greater than the average growth of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC),
which was 2.8%.[63]
The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), which was established on 28 January 1992,[47] includes a Common Effective
Preferential Tariff (CEPT) to promote the free flow of goods between member states.[62] When the AFTA agreement
was originally signed, ASEAN had only six members: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and
Thailand. Vietnam joined in 1995, Laos and Burma in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. The newcomers have not fully
met AFTA's obligations, but they are officially considered part of the AFTA as they were required to sign the
agreement upon entry into ASEAN, and were given longer time frames in which to meet AFTA's tariff reduction
obligations.[64]
The next steps are to create a single market and production base, a competitive economic region, a region of
equitable economic development, and a region that is fully integrated into the global economy.
Since 2007, ASEAN countries have gradually lowered their import duties to member nations. The target is zero
import duties by 2016.[65]
In February 2016, President Obama initiated the inaugural US-ASEAN Summit at Sunnylands for closer
engagement with ASEAN, as China's economic and trade growth have dimmed. The territorial disputes in the South
China Sea were also discussed. However, in a final joint statement, the Sunnylands Declaration did not allude to
the South China Sea by name, instead calling for "respect for each nation's sovereignty and for international law".
Analysts believe the wording indicated divides within the group on how to respond to China's maritime strategy.[66][67]
ASEAN countries have many economic zones (industrial parks, eco-industrial parks, special economic zones,
technology parks, and innovation districts). UNIDO Viet Nam (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)
has compiled in 2015 a list of economic zones in the ASEAN Economic Community in a report titled "Economic
Zones in the ASEAN",[68] written by Arnault Morisson.
Internal market[edit]
By the end of 2015, ASEAN plans to establish a common market based upon the four freedoms. The single market
will ensure the free flow of goods, services, skilled labour, and capital.
Until the end of 2010, intra-ASEAN trade was still low. Trade involved mainly exports to countries outside the region,
with the exception of Laos and Myanmar, whose foreign trade was ASEAN-oriented, with 80% and 50% respectively
of their exports going to other ASEAN countries.[69]
In 2009, realised foreign direct investment (FDI) was US$37.9 billion and increased two-fold in 2010 to
US$75.8 billion. 22% of FDI came from the European Union, followed by ASEAN countries (16%), and by Japan
and the USA.
The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Trade in Services (AFAS) was adopted at the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in
December 1995.[70] Under AFAS, ASEAN member states enter into successive rounds of negotiations to liberalise
trade in services with the aim of submitting increasingly higher levels of commitment. At present, ASEAN has
concluded seven packages of commitments under AFAS.[71]
Free flow of skilled labour[edit]
Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) have been agreed upon by ASEAN for eight professions: physicians,
dentists, nurses, architects, engineers, accountants, surveyors, and tourism professionals. Individuals in these
professions will be free to work in any ASEAN nation after the AEC goes into effect on 31 December
2015.[72] Applicants must be licensed and recognised professionals in these fields in their home countries. They can
move to other ASEAN countries to practice, but they must pass that country's licensing test. In Thailand, licensing
tests will be in the Thai language. In addition, one cannot be an independent practitioner. Any foreign professional
intending to work must collaborate with a local business. Given these hurdles, it is unlikely that there will be
significant migrations of professionals in the near-term.[73] A Chulalongkorn University study predicts that
more developed countries stand to benefit the most from the free flow of professionals.[74]
Free trade[edit]
Free trade initiatives in ASEAN are spearheaded by the implementation of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement
(ATIGA) and the Agreement on Customs. These agreements are supported by work done by several sector bodies
to plan and to execute free trade measures, guided by the provisions and the requirements of ATIGA and the
Agreement on Customs. The progress being made by these sector bodies forms a backbone for achieving the
targets of the AEC Blueprint and establishing the ASEAN Economic Community by the end of 2015.[75]
The year 2007 was the 40th anniversary of ASEAN's formation. It also marked 30 years of diplomatic relations with
the USA.[76] On 26 August 2007, ASEAN stated that it aims to complete all of its free trade agreements with China,
Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand by 2013. This is in line with the start of the ASEAN
Economic Community by 2015.[77][78] In November 2007, ASEAN members signed the ASEAN Charter, a constitution
governing relations among ASEAN members and establishing ASEAN itself as an international legal entity. [79] During
the same year, the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security was signed (15 January 2007) by ASEAN and
the other members of the EAS (Australia, The People's Republic of China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South
Korea), which pursues energy security by finding energy alternatives to conventional fuels.[80]
On 27 February 2009, a free trade agreement (FTA) with the ASEAN regional bloc of ten countries and Australia,
and its close partner New Zealand was signed. It is believed that this FTA would boost combined GDP across the
twelve countries by more than US$48 billion over the period between 2000 and 2020.[81][82] ASEAN members,
together with the group's six major trading partners (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea),
began the first round of negotiations on 26–28 February 2013, in Bali, Indonesia on the establishment of the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.[83]
ASEAN six majors[edit]
Six majors refers to the six largest economies in the area that are many times larger than the remaining four ASEAN
countries:

GDP (nominal
Population[84] GDP (nominal per GDP (PPP 2017) GDP (PPP per
2016)
Country (2016, capita) (millions of US capita)
(millions of US
millions) (US dollars) dollars)[85] (US dollars)
dollars)[85]

261.1 $932,448 $3,640 $3,257,123 $12,432

Indonesia

Thailand 68.9 $406,949 $5,939 $1,226,407 $17,749

Philippines 103.3 $304,696 $2,982 $878,980 $8,270

5.6 $296,967 $53,431 $514,837 $90,724

Singapore
Malaysia 31.2 $296,359 $9,360 $922,057 $28,636

Vietnam 94.6 $201,326 $2,173 $648,234 $6,925

ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF)[edit]

The ACMF is a collaboration among the six stock exchanges of Malaysia, Vietnam (2
exchanges), Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. It includes 70% of the transaction values of the
six ASEAN stock exchanges.[86] Its objective is the integration of ASEAN stock exchanges so as to compete with
international exchanges.
Development gap[edit]
ASEAN members by
Human Development Index[87]:22–24

Country HDI (2016)

Singapore 0.925 very high

Brunei 0.865 very high

Malaysia 0.789 high

Thailand 0.740 high

Indonesia 0.689 medium

ASEAN 0.684 medium

Vietnam 0.683 medium

Philippines 0.682 medium

Laos 0.568 medium

Cambodia 0.563 medium

Myanmar 0.556 medium

When Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia joined ASEAN in the late 1990s, concerns were raised about a gap
in average per capita GDP between older and newer members. In response, the Initiative for ASEAN Integration
(IAI) was formed by ASEAN as a regional integrationpolicy with the goal of bridging this developmental divide,
which, in addition to disparities in per capita GDP, is manifested by disparities in dimensions of human development
such as life expectancy and literacy rates. Other than the IAI, other programmes for the development of the Mekong
Basin—where all four newer ASEAN members are located—that tend to focus on infrastructure development were
enacted. In general, ASEAN does not have the financial resources to extend substantial grants or loans to the new
members. Therefore, it usually leaves the financing of these infrastructure projects to international financial
institutions and to developed countries. Nevertheless, it mobilised funding from these institutions and countries, and
from the ASEAN-6 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, and Thailand) themselves, for
areas where the development gap needs to be bridged through the IAI programme. Other programmes intended for
the development of the ASEAN-4 take advantage of the geographical proximity of the CLMV (Cambodia-Laos-
Myanmar-Vietnam) countries and tend to focus on infrastructure development in areas like transport, tourism,
and power transmission.[88]
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) [edit]
RCEP consists of all ten ASEAN countries plus six countries (China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, and New
Zealand) which have trade agreements with ASEAN countries. RCEP covers 45% of the world's population and
about a third of the world's total GDP. For example, 60% of New Zealand's exports are to RCEP countries. RCEP is
an extension of ASEAN plus three, and then ASEAN plus six.[89][90][91]
Monetary union[edit]
The concept of an Asian Currency Unit (ACU) started in the middle of the nineties, prior to the 1997 Asian financial
crisis.[92] It is a proposed basket of Asian currencies, similar to the European Currency Unit, which was the precursor
of the Euro. The Asian Development Bank is responsible for exploring the feasibility and construction of the
basket.[92][93]
Since the ACU is being considered to be a precursor to a common currency in the future, it has a dynamic outlook of
the region.[94] The overall goal of a common currency is to contribute to the financial stability of a regional economy,
including price stability. It means lower cost of cross-border business through the elimination of currency risk for the
members of the monetary union. Greater flows of intra-regional trade would put pressure on prices, resulting in
cheaper goods and services. Individuals benefit not only from the lowering of prices, they save by not having to
change money when travelling within the union, by being able to compare prices more readily, and by the reduced
cost of transferring money across borders. However, there are conditions for a common currency: the intensity of
intra-regional trade and the convergence of macroeconomic conditions. Substantial intra-ASEAN trade and
economic integration is an incentive for a monetary union. Intra-ASEAN trade is growing, partly as a result of the
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the ASEAN Economic Community.
However, some obstacles remain. ASEAN currently trades more with other countries (80%) than among its member
countries (20%). Therefore, ASEAN economies are more concerned about currency stability against major
international currencies, like the US dollar. On macroeconomic conditions, ASEAN member countries have different
levels of economic development, capacity, and priorities that translate into different levels of interest and readiness.
Monetary integration however implies less control over national monetary and fiscal policy to stimulate the economy.
Therefore, greater convergence in macroeconomic conditions is being enacted to improve conditions and
confidence in a common currency.[95] On the other hand, there are also constraints on the adoption of one currency,
such as the following: diversity in the level of economic development across countries, weaknesses in the financial
sectors of many countries, inadequacy of regional-level resource pooling mechanisms and institutions required for
forming and managing a currency union, and lack of political preconditions for monetary co-operation and a
common currency.[96]
Free-trade agreements[edit]
ASEAN has concluded free trade agreements with China (expecting bilateral trade of $500 billion by 2015),[97] Korea,
Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and India.[98] ASEAN-India bilateral trade crossed the US$70 billion target in 2012
(target was to reach the level only by 2015).[citation needed] The agreement with People's Republic of China created
the ASEAN–China Free Trade Area (ACFTA), which went into full effect on 1 January 2010. In addition, ASEAN is
currently negotiating a free trade agreement with the European Union.[98] The Republic of China (Taiwan) has also
expressed interest in an agreement with ASEAN but needs to overcome diplomatic objections from China.[99]
Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in South-East Asia, signed at the First ASEAN Summit on 24 February
1976, declared that in their relations with one another, the High Contracting Parties should be guided by the
following fundamental principles:

 Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations
 The right of every state to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion
 Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another
 Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner
 Renunciation of the threat or use of force
 Effective co-operation among themselves
From CMI to AMRO[edit]
Due to the Asian financial crisis of 1997 to 1998, and the long and difficult negotiations with the International
Monetary Fund, ASEAN+3 agreed to set up a mainly bilateral currency swap scheme known as the 2000 Chiang
Mai Initiative (CMI) in anticipation of another financial crisis in the future. In 2006 they agreed to meld the CMI with
multilateralisation and call it CMIM. On 3 May 2009, they agreed to make a currency pool consisting of contributions:
US$38.4 billion each by China and Japan, US$19.2 billion by South Korea, and US$24 billion from all ASEAN
members, totalling US$120 billion.[100] A key component has also been added recently, with the establishment of a
surveillance unit.[101]
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic and Research Office (AMRO) started operations in Singapore in May 2011.[102] It
performs a key regional surveillance function of the US$120 billion Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM)
currency swap facility.[103]
Some analysts think that the sum of US$120 billion is relatively small (covering only about 20% of needs), so co-
ordination or help from the IMF is still needed.[104] On 3 May 2012, ASEAN+3 finance ministers agreed to double
emergency reserve funds to US$240 billion.[105]
Megacity[edit]
Only Metro Jakarta and Manila were listed in the top 5 megacities in the world by the International Monetary Fund in
2010. The IMF projects Metro Manila to be the only megacity in Southeast Asia included in the top 10 by 2050 and
2075. It is also projected that Metro Manila will surpass all megacities in all East Asian regions by 2100, including
those in Japan.

Single aviation market[edit]

The ASEAN Single Aviation Market (ASEAN-SAM) is the region's aviation policy geared towards the development of
a unified and single aviation market in Southeast Asia. The aviation policy was proposed by the ASEAN Air
Transport Working Group, supported by the ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting, and endorsed by the
ASEAN Transport Ministers.[106] The ASEAN-SAM is expected to liberalise air travel between member-states in the
ASEAN region, allowing ASEAN airlines to benefit directly from the growth in air travel, and also free up tourism,
trade, investment, and service flows between member states.[106][107] Since 1 December 2008, restrictions on the third
and fourth freedoms of the airbetween capital cities of member states for air passenger services have been
removed,[108] while from 1 January 2009, full liberalisation of air freight services in the region took effect.[106][107] On 1
January 2011, full liberalisation on fifth freedom traffic rights between all capital cities took effect.[109] The ASEAN
Single Aviation Market policy supersedes existing unilateral, bilateral, and multilateral air services agreements
among member states which are inconsistent with its provisions.

Tourism[edit]
With the institutionalisation of visa-free travel between ASEAN member states, intra-ASEAN travel has boomed, a
sign that endeavours to form an ASEAN community may bear fruit in years to come. In 2010, 47% or 34 million out
of 73 million tourists in ASEAN member-states were from other ASEAN countries.[110]
ASEAN co-operation in tourism was formalised in 1976, following formation of the Sub-Committee on Tourism
(SCOT) under the ASEAN Committee on Trade and Tourism. The 1st ASEAN Tourism Forum was held on 18–26
October 1981 in Kuala Lumpur. In 1986, ASEAN Promotional Chapters for Tourism (APCT) were established in
Hong Kong, West Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, and North America.[111]
Tourism has been one of the key growth sectors in ASEAN and has proven resilient amid global economic
challenges. The wide array of tourist attractions across the region drew 109 million tourists to ASEAN in 2015, up by
34% compared to 81 million tourists in 2011. As of 2012, tourism was estimated to account for 4.6% of ASEAN
GDP—10.9% when taking into account all indirect contributions. It directly employed 9.3 million people, or 3.2% of
total employment, and indirectly supported some 25 million jobs.[112][113] In addition, the sector accounted for an
estimated 8% of total capital investment in the region.[114]
In January 2012, ASEAN tourism ministers called for the development of a marketing strategy. The strategy
represents the consensus of ASEAN National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) on marketing directions for ASEAN
moving forward to 2015.[115]
In the 2013 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) report, Singapore placed 1st, Malaysia placed 8th,
Thailand placed 9th, Indonesia placed 12th, Brunei placed 13th, Vietnam placed 16th, Philippines placed 17th, and
Cambodia placed 20th as the top destinations of travellers in the Asia Pacific region.[116]

Foreign affairs and summits[edit]

ASEAN identity[edit]

Royal Thai Embassy, Helsinki, flying its own national flag as well as ASEAN's flag

ASEAN's planned integration of its ten member nations has challenged its citizens to embrace a regional identity.
The call for ASEAN identity delivers a challenge to construct dynamic institutions and foster sufficient amounts of
social capital. The underlying assumption is that the creation of a regional identity is of special interest to ASEAN
and the intent of the 2020 Vision policy document was to reassert the belief in a regional framework designed as an
action plan related to human development and civic empowerment. Accordingly, these assumptions will be the basis
for recommendations and strategies in developing a participatory regional identity.[117]
ASEAN Summit[edit]
Main article: ASEAN Summit

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte poses for a photo with the ASEAN foreign ministers during the 50th anniversary of the
group's foundation on August 8, 2017.

A billboard in Jakarta welcoming delegates for the 2011 ASEAN Summit

The organisation holds meetings, known as ASEAN Summits, where heads of government of each member meet to
discuss and resolve regional issues, as well as to conduct other meetings with countries outside the bloc to promote
external relations.
The first ASEAN summit was held in Bali in 1976. Its third meeting was in Manila in 1987 and during this meeting, it
was decided that the leaders would meet every five years.[118] The fourth meeting was held in Singapore in 1992
where the leaders decided to meet more frequently, every three years.[118] In 2001, it was decided to meet annually
to address urgent issues affecting the region. Member nations were assigned to be the summit host in alphabetical
order except in the case of Burma which dropped its 2006 hosting rights in 2004 due to pressure from the United
States and the European Union.[119]
In December 2008, the ASEAN Charter came into force and with it, the ASEAN Summit will be held twice a year.
The formal summit meets for three days. The typical agenda is as follows:

 Leaders of member states would hold an internal organisation meeting.

 Leaders of member states hold a conference together with foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
 A meeting, known as ASEAN Plus Three, is set for leaders of three dialogue partners (People's Republic of
China, Japan, South Korea)
 A separate meeting, known as ASEAN-CER, is with the two dialogue partners (Australia and New Zealand).[120]
East Asia Summit[edit]
Main article: East Asia Summit

Participants of the East Asia Summit

 ASEAN

ASEAN Plus Three

Additional members

Observer

The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a pan-Asian forum held annually by the leaders of eighteen countries in the East
Asian region, with ASEAN in a leadership position. Membership was initially all ten members of ASEAN
plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand, but was expanded to include the United
States and Russia at the Sixth EAS in 2011.
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 summit has discussed issues including trade, energy, and security and
the summit has a role in regional community building.

[show]East Asia Summits

Commemorative summit[edit]
Main article: ASEAN Free Trade Area

A commemorative summit is a summit hosted by a non-ASEAN country to mark a milestone anniversary of the
establishment of relations between ASEAN and the host country. The host country invites the heads of government
of ASEAN member countries to discuss future co-operation and partnership.

[show]Commemorative Summits

Regional Forum[edit]

█ ASEAN full members

█ ASEAN observers
██ ASEAN Plus Three
███ East Asia Summit
██████ ASEAN Regional Forum

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a formal, official, multilateral, dialogue in the Asia Pacific region. As of July
2007, it consists of twenty-seven participants. ARF's objectives are to foster dialogue and consultation, and to
promote confidence-building and preventive diplomacy in the region.[125] The ARF met for the first time in 1994. The
current participants in the ARF are: all ASEAN members, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, the European
Union, India, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia,
East Timor, the United States, and Sri Lanka.[126]
Taiwan has been excluded since the establishment of the ARF, and issues regarding the Taiwan Strait are neither
discussed at ARF meetings nor stated in the ARF Chairman's Statements.
Other meetings[edit]
Aside from the ones above, other regular meetings are also held.[13] These include the annual ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting[127] as well as other smaller committees.[128] Meetings focus mostly on specific topics, such as defence or
the environment,[129] and are attended by ministers, instead of heads of government.

 The ASEAN Plus Three is a meeting between ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea, and is held primarily
during each ASEAN Summit. Until now, China, Japan, and South Korea have not yet formed a Free Trade Area
(FTA); the initial meeting about FTA among them was held at end of 2012.[130]
 The Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal dialogue process initiated in 1996 with the intention of
strengthening co-operation between the countries of Europe and Asia, especially members of the European
Union and ASEAN in particular.[131] ASEAN, represented by its Secretariat, is one of the forty-five ASEM
partners. It also appoints a representative to sit on the governing board of Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), a
socio-cultural organisation associated with the meeting.
 The ASEAN–US Summit is an annual meeting between leaders of member states and the President of the US.
 The ASEAN–Russia Summit is an annual meeting between leaders of member states and the President of
Russia.
 The ASEAN–India Summit is an annual meeting between leaders of member states and the Prime Minister of
India.

Mass media[edit]
ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI)[edit]
ASEAN member states promote co-operation in information to help build an ASEAN identity. One of the main bodies
in ASEAN co-operation in information is the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (COCI). Established in
1978, its mission is to promote effective co-operation in the fields of information, as well as culture, through its
various projects and activities. The COCI includes representatives from national institutions like the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Ministries of Culture and Information, national radio and television networks, museums, archives
and libraries, among others. Together, they meet once a year to formulate and agree on projects to fulfil their
mission.[132]
ASEAN Media Cooperation[edit]
ASEAN Media Cooperation (AMC) sets digital television standards and policies in preparation for broadcasters to
transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. This collaboration was conceptualised during the 11th ASEAN
Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) Conference in Malaysia on 1 March 2012 where a consensus
declared that both new and traditional media were keys to connecting ASEAN peoples and bridging cultural gaps in
the region.[133]
Several key initiatives under the AMC include:[134]

 The ASEAN Media Portal[135] was launched 16 November 2007. The portal aims to provide a one-stop site that
contains documentaries, games, music videos, and multimedia clips on the culture, arts, and heritage of the
ASEAN countries to showcase ASEAN culture and the capabilities of its media industry.
 The ASEAN NewsMaker Project, an initiative launched in 2009, trains students and teachers to produce
informational video clips about their countries. The project was initiated by Singapore. Students trained in
NewsMaker software, video production, together with developing narrative storytelling skills. Dr Soeung
Rathchavy, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community noted that: "Raising
ASEAN awareness amongst the youth is part and parcel of our efforts to build the ASEAN Community by 2015.
Using ICT and the media, our youths in the region will get to know ASEAN better, deepening their
understanding and appreciation of the cultures, social traditions and values in ASEAN."[136]
 The ASEAN Digital Broadcasting Meeting, is an annual forum for ASEAN members to set digital television
(DTV) standards and policies, and to discuss progress in the implementation of the blueprint from analogue to
digital TV broadcasting by 2020. During the 11th ASEAN Digital Broadcasting Meeting[137] members updated the
status on DTV implementation and agreed to inform ASEAN members on the Guidelines for ASEAN Digital
Switchover.[138] An issue was raised around the availability and affordability of set-top boxes (STB), thus ASEAN
members were asked to make policies to determine funding for STBs, methods of allocation, subsidies and
rebates, and other methods for the allocation of STBs. It was also agreed in the meeting to form a task force to
develop STB specifications for DVB-T2 to ensure efficiency.

ASEAN Community 2015[edit]

For nearly two decades, the ASEAN was composed of only five countries, its 8 August 1967 founders: Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Other southeast Asian countries joined at different times: Brunei
(1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos and Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999).
Beginning in 1997, heads of each member state adopted the ASEAN Vision 2020 during ASEAN's 30th anniversary
meeting held in Kuala Lumpur. This vision, as a means for the realisation of a single ASEAN community, sees
Southeast Asia becoming a group of nations which are: "outward looking, living in peace, stability and
propsperity".[139] Included in ASEAN Vision 2020 were provisions on: peace and stability, being nuclear-free, closer
economic integration, human development, sustainable development, cultural heritage, being drug-free,
environment, among others. The Vision also aimed to: "see an outward-looking ASEAN playing a pivotal role in the
international fora, and advancing ASEAN's common interests".[140] Such vision was formalised and made
comprehensive through the Bali Concord II in 2003. Three major pillars of a single ASEAN community were
originally established: (1) ASEAN Security Community, (2) ASEAN Economic Community and (3) ASEAN Socio-
Cultural Community.[141] The ASEAN Community, initially planned to commence by 2020, was accelerated to begin
by 31 December 2015.[142] This was decided upon by heads of member states during the 12th ASEAN Summit
in Cebu in 2007.[143]
On 20 November 2007, the ASEAN Charter was signed in Singapore, forty years after the founding of ASEAN. Also
concurrently signed was the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint. This was to establish stronger rules-
based norms and values shared among all member states. The charter was later ratified in 2008.[144] To full embody
the three Bali Concord II pillars as part of the 2015 integration, blueprints for ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) were subsequently adopted in 2009 in Cha-am, Thailand.[145]

ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly
available information. (January 2016)
ASEAN leaders sign the declaration of the ASEAN Economic Community during the 27th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur,
2015

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)[146] is now generally referred to as "AEC 2015" since its original
implementation date was brought forward from 2020 to 31 December 2015. As one of the three pillars of the
ASEAN, it aims to "implement economic integration initiatives" to create a single market across ASEAN nations. On
20 November 2007, during the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore, its blueprint, which serves as a master plan
guiding the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community 2015, was adopted.[147]
The ASEAN Economic Community is the goal of regional economic integration by 2015. Its characteristics include:
(1) a single market and production base, (2) a highly competitive economic region, (3) a region of fair economic
development, and (4) a region fully integrated into the global economy. The areas of co-operation include human
resources development; recognition of professional qualifications; closer consultation on macroeconomic and
financial policies; trade financing measures; enhanced infrastructure and communications connectivity; development
of electronic transactions through e-ASEAN; integrating industries across the region to promote regional sourcing;
and enhancing private sector involvement. Through the free movement of skilled labour, goods, services and
investment, ASEAN will rise globally as one market with each member gaining from each other's strengths, thus
increasing its competitiveness and opportunities for development.[148]
The AEC is the embodiment of the ASEAN's vision of: "...a stable, prosperous and highly competitive ASEAN
economic region in which there is a free flow of goods, services, investment and a freer flow of capital, equitable
economic development and reduced poverty and socio-economic disparities".[149]
The formulation of an AEC Blueprint established the members' commitment to a common goal as well as ensuring
compliance with stated objectives and timelines. The AEC Blueprint lays out the overall vision as well as the goals,
implementing plans and strategies (actions), as well as the strategic schedule (timeline) for achieving the
establishment of the AEC by end-2015.[149]
ASEAN will officially declare the establishment of an ASEAN Economic Community by end-December 2015. For
ASEAN economies and citizens, it will be business as usual because the key agreements and regulations that will
govern the business and economic relationships under the AEC are already in place and operational.[149]
Reinforcing ASEAN relations[edit]
The conduct of the 2nd BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT Trade Fair and Business Leaders Conference on 22–26 October
2014 in Davao City, Philippines, signified the renewed commitment of the four member countries namely, Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (BIMP) to further the cause of the East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA) co-
operation as a model for the 2015 ASEAN Integration. During the Conference, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN
for the ASEAN Economic Community, Dr. Lim Hong Hin, said that the convergence of the BIMP-EAGA and
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand – Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) will amplify the subregions’ full potential and maximise its
initial gain towards greater engagement in the larger ASEAN community. The vision of the BIMP-EAGA initiative is
to realise socially acceptable and sustainable economic development, and the full participation of the subregion in
the ASEAN development process. BIMP-EAGA was proposed in 1992 by then Philippine President Fidel V.
Ramos as a major economic initiative in ASEAN. The idea of expanding the economic co-operation among the
border areas of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines was supported by the leaders of the
three countries which eventually led to the creation of BIMP-EAGA launched on 24 March 1994 in Davao City,
Mindanao, Philippines. The subregion covers a land-area of 1.54 million square kilometres and a population of 70
million.[150]
The improved regional-subregional collaborations will spur trade, investment, and small and medium-sized
enterprise (SME) development through enhanced backward linkages, production system, and forward linkages. The
convergence will also facilitate the completion of region wide infrastructure projects such as the Sumatra Port
Development, Melaka-Pekan Baru Power Interconnection, and Sumatra Toll Roads Project. The subregions’
convergence will create synergy in transport facilitation by forging the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross
Border Trade Arrangement and BIMP-EAGA Cross Border Arrangement, promote clustering and branding through
collaborative tourism promotion, tailored agro-based industries strategies, and addressing environmental issues.
The greater co-ordination among the subregions, maximising synergy with the full participation of the stakeholders
will ensure equitable economic benefits of the ASEAN countries facing the challenge of globalisation.[151]
2020 ASEAN Banking Integration Framework[edit]
As the flow of goods, services, investment, capital, and skilled labour between countries is liberalised with the
ASEAN Economic Integration in 2015, the need arises for ASEAN banking institutions to accommodate and expand
their services to a greater intra-ASEAN market. While the ASEAN financial integration is not going to take effect until
2020, experts from the financial services industry have already forecast a shaky economic transition, especially for
smaller players in the banking and financial services industry.
Two separate reports by Standard & Poor's, entitled ASEAN Financial Integration: The Long Road to Bank
Consolidation and The Philippines' Banking System: The Good, the Bad and the Ambivalent, outline the challenges
ASEAN financial institutions are facing as they prepare for the 2020 banking integration. The Philippines, with its
overcrowded banking sector, for example, is among the ASEAN-member countries who are forecast to feel the most
pressure as the integration welcomes tighter competition with the entry of bigger, more established foreign
banks.[152] To lessen the impact of this consolidation, countries with banking sectors considered smaller by global
standards must expand regionally. S&P in a follow up report recently cited the Philippines for "shoring up its network
bases and building up capital ahead of the banking integration – playing defence and strengthening their domestic
networks".[152]
Roadmap for ASEAN financial integration[edit]
The Roadmap for the Integration of ASEAN in Finance is the latest regional initiative, which aims to strengthen
regional self-help and support mechanisms. The implementation of the roadmap will contribute to the realisation of
the ASEAN Economic Community that was launched by the ASEAN leaders in October 2003 in Bali. The AEC is the
end-goal of economic integration as outlined in the ASEAN Vision 2020 and the Bali Concord II to establish a single
market and production base, characterised by the free movement of goods, services, investment, and a freer flow of
capital. The AEC will also facilitate the movement of business professionals, skilled labour, and talent within the
region. As in the EU, adoption of an ASEAN common currency, when conditions are ripe, could be the final stage of
the ASEAN Economic Community. Under the roadmap, approaches and milestones have been identified in areas
deemed crucial to financial and monetary integration, namely: (a) capital market development, (b) capital account
liberalisation, (c) financial services liberalisation, and (d) ASEAN currency co-operation. Capital market development
entails promoting institutional capacity, including the legal and regulatory framework, as well as the facilitation of
greater cross-border collaboration, linkages, and harmonisation between capital markets in the region. Orderly
capital account liberalisation will be promoted with adequate safeguards against volatility and systemic risks. To
expedite the process of financial services liberalisation, ASEAN has agreed on a positive list modality and adopted
milestones to facilitate negotiations. Currency co-operation would involve exploration of possible currency
arrangements, including an ASEAN currency payment system for trade in local goods to reduce the demand for US
dollars and to help promote stability of regional currencies, such as by settling intra-ASEAN trade using regional
currencies.[95]
While in the offing of an ASEAN common currency, the leaders of the member-states of ASEAN agreed in
November 1999 to create the establishment of currency swaps, and repurchase agreements, as a credit line against
future financial shocks. In May 2000, the finance minister of the ASEAN agreed through the "Chiang Mai Initiative"
to plan for closer monetary and financial co-operation.[153] The "Chiang Mai Initiative" or CMI, named after the City of
Chiang Mai in Thailand, has two components: an expanded ASEAN Swap Arrangement, and a network of bilateral
swap arrangements among ASEAN countries, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The ASEAN Swap
Arrangement or ASA preceded the regional financial crisis. ASA was originally established by the ASEAN central
bank and monetary authorities of the five founding members of ASEAN with a view to help countries meet
temporary liquidity problems. An expanded ASA now includes all ten ASEAN countries with an expanded facility of
US$1 billion. In recognition of the economic interdependence of East Asia, which has a combined foreign exchange
reserves amounting to about US$1 trillion, a network of bilateral swap arrangements and repurchase agreements
among ASEAN countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea has been agreed upon. The supplementary
facility aims to provide temporary financing for members which may be in balance-of-payments difficulties. In 200,
16 bilateral swap arrangements (BSAs) have been successfully concluded with a combined amount of about
US$35.5 billion.[154] The original CMI was signed on 9 December 2009 which took effect on 20 March 2014, while the
amended version, the multilateralisation of CMI (CMIM), was on 17 July 2014. CMIM is a multilateral currency swap
arrangement with a total size of US$240 billion, governed by a single contractual agreement, while the CMI is a
network of bilateral swap arrangements among the "Plus Three" and ASEAN countries' authorities. In addition, an
independent regional surveillance unit called the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) was
established to monitor and analyse regional economies, and to support the CMIM decision-making process.[154] The
amendments will effectively allow access of the ASEAN+3 member countries and Hong Kong to an enhanced CMIM
package, which includes, among others, the doubling of the fund size from US$120 billion to US$240 billion, an
increase in the level of access not linked to an International Monetary Fund program from 20%–30%, and the
introduction of a crisis prevention facility. These amendments are expected to fortify CMIM as the region's financial
safety net in the event of any potential or actual liquidity difficulty.[155]
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) will serve as the independent regional surveillance unit of
the CMIM. The establishment of AMRO will ensure timely monitoring and analysis of the ASEAN+3 economies,
which will in turn aid in the early detection of risks, swift implementation of remedial actions, and effective decision-
making of the CMIM. In particular, the AMRO will, during peace time, conduct annual consultations with individual
member economies and, on this basis, prepare quarterly consolidated reports on the macroeconomic assessment of
the ASEAN+3 region and individual member countries. On the other hand, the AMRO will, during crisis time,
prepare recommendations on any swap request based on its macroeconomic analysis of the swap requesting
member and monitor the use and impact of funds once any swap request is approved. AMRO was officially
incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in Singapore on 20 April 2011 and its office is at the Monetary
Authority of Singapore complex in Singapore. Governance of AMRO is being exercised by the Executive Committee
(EC) and its operational direction by the Advisory Panel (AP). AMRO is currently headed by Dr Yoichi Nemoto of
Japan, who is serving his second 2-year term until 26 May 2016.[154] Stability in the financial system is a precondition
to maintain the momentum of ASEAN economic integration. In turn, the more ASEAN economies become
integrated, the more feasible it is to adopt an ASEAN single currency, which is expected to reinforce even further
stability and integration in Southeast Asia.[95]
Food security[edit]
ASEAN member nations recognise the importance of strengthening food security to maintain stability and prosperity
in the region. The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing: "when all people at all times have
access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life".[156]
Part of the aim for ASEAN integration is to achieve food security collectively via trade in rice and maize. Trade
facilitation measures and the harmonisation/equivalency of food regulation and control standards will reduce the
cost of trade in food products. While specialisation and revealed comparative and competitive indices point to
complementarities between trade patterns among the ASEAN member countries, intra-ASEAN trade in agriculture is
quite small. However, integration could address this problem.[157] The MARKET project will provide flexible and
demand-driven support to the ASEAN Secretariat, while bringing more private-sector and civil-society input into
regional agriculture policy dialogue. By building an environment that reduces barriers to trade, ASEAN trade will
increase, thereby decreasing the risk of another food price crisis.[158]
As ASEAN moves towards an integrated community in 2015 and beyond, food security should be an integral part of
the ASEAN community building agenda and deserves more attention.[159]
Reception and criticisms[edit]
ASEAN's integration plan has raised concerns. In particular, meeting the 2015 deadline has been questioned.
Business and economy experts who attended the Lippo-UPH Dialogue in Naypyidaw cited unresolved issues
relating to aviation, agriculture, and human resources.[160] Some panellists, among them, Kishore Mahbubani,
warned against high expectations at the onset. He stated:
Please do not expect a big bang event in 2015 where everything is going to happen overnight when the ASEAN
Economic Community comes into being. We've made progress in some areas and unfortunately regressed in some
areas.[161]
Some panellists enumerated other matters to be dealt with for a successful launch. Among them were the
communications issues involving the 600 million citizens living in the region, creating a heightened level of
understanding in the business sector, current visa arrangements, demand for specific skills, banking connections,
and economic differences between member-nations. Former Philippine National Statistical Coordination
Board (NSCB) Secretary General Romulo A. Virola, said in 2012 that the Philippines does not appear to be ready to
benefit from ASEAN integration due to its "wobbly" economic performance compared to other ASEAN member
countries. According to Virola, the Philippines continues to lag behind in terms of employment rate, tourism, life
expectancy, and cellular subscriptions.[162] Nestor Tan, head of BDO Unibank Inc., said that while some businesses
see the Asian Economic Blueprint (AEC) as an opportunity, the integration would be more of a threat to local firms.
Tan added that protecting the Philippines' agricultural and financial services sectors, as well as the labour sector,
would be necessary for the implementation of AEC by 2015.[163] Standard & Poor's also believed that banks in the
Philippines are not yet prepared for the tougher competition that would result from the integration of Southeast Asian
economies. In one of its latest publications, S&P said banks in the country, although profitable and stable, operate
on a much smaller scale than their counterparts in the region.[163]
The US Chamber of Commerce has highlighted the widespread concern that the much-anticipated AEC could not
be launched by the end-2015 deadline.[164] In January 2014, former ASEAN Secretary-General Rodolfo C. Severino,
wrote: "while ASEAN should not be condemned for its members' failure to make good on their commitments, any
failure to deliver will likely lead to a loss of credibility and could mean that member countries fall further behind in the
global competition for export markets and foreign direct investment(FDI)".[165] This is not the first time that AEC faces
a probable delay. In 2012, the commencement of the AEC was postponed to 31 December 2015 from the original
plan of 1 January 2015. Despite ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan's firm reassurance that: "[t]here will be
no more delays and that all ten ASEAN countries will participate", even the most fervent proponents of AEC are
beginning to worry about the increasingly diminishing chance of delivering AEC on time as December 2015
nears.[166]
An article published by Vietnam News echoed some of the challenges and opportunities that Vietnam faces in
preparation for the AEC. The article said that the deputy head of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of
Industry and Trade, Tran Thanh Hai, was concerned about local enterprises' lack of knowledge of the AEC. It was
said that 80% of local enterprises surveyed acknowledged that they have little information about the interests and
challenges available for them in the ASEAN market. The article also noted that the general secretary of the Vietnam
Steel Association, Chu Duc Khai, said that most of the local steel making enterprises lack information about doing
business in the ASEAN market; they have not had a chance to study the ASEAN market, and have only exported
small amounts of steel to ASEAN countries. Another challenge for Vietnam, the article stated, is the need to
compete with other countries in the ASEAN market to export raw products since the country had mainly exported
raw products.[167]
The Asian Development Bank also has doubts about Cambodia's ability to meet the AEC deadline in 2015. The
leading economist of ADB, Jayant Menon, said that Cambodia needs to speed up its customs reform and to press
ahead with automating processes to reduce trade costs and minimise the opportunities for corruption and be ready
for the implementation of its National Single Window by 2015.[168]

ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint[edit]

During the 14th ASEAN Summit held 26 February to 1 March 2009, the ASEAN heads of state/governments
adopted the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint (APSC).[169]This document is aimed at creating a robust
political-security environment within ASEAN, with programs and activities outlined to establish the APSC by 2016.
The document is based on the principles and purposes of the ASEAN charter, the ASEAN Security Community Plan
of Action, the Vientiane Action Programme, and other relevant decisions.
In essence, the APSC aims to create a community that portrays the following characteristics: a rules-based
community of shared values and norms; a cohesive, peaceful, stable and resilient region with a shared responsibility
toward comprehensive security; and a dynamic and outward-looking region in an increasingly integrated and
interdependent world.
ASEAN Defence Industry Collaboration[edit]
The ASEAN Defence Industry Collaboration (ADIC) was proposed at the 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting on
11 May 2010 in Hanoi.[170] The emergence of this concept was triggered by the fact that the majority of the ASEAN
member states are regular importers of defence and security equipment. One of the purposes of this concept is to
reduce defence imports from non-ASEAN countries by half (i.e., from US$25 billion down to US$12.5 billion a year)
and to further develop the defence industry in the region.[171]
The concept was formally adopted during the 5th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) on 19 May 2011, in
Jakarta, Indonesia,[172] in line with the ADMM agreement to enhance security co-operation in the following areas:
maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter-terrorism, and military medicine. Its goal
points toward actions that will enhance security in each of the ASEAN member states.[173][174]
The main focus of the concept is to industrially and technologically boost the security capability of the ASEAN,
consistent with the principles of flexibility and non-binding and voluntary participation among the ASEAN member
states.[175][176] The concept revolves around education and capability building programmes to develop the skills and
capabilities of manpower, sharing in the production of capital for defence equipment, components, and spares, and
the provision of repair and maintenance services to address all the defence and security needs of each ASEAN
country. It also aims to develop the defence trade in the region by encouraging ASEAN member states to participate
in the intra-ASEAN defence trade and support trade shows and exhibitions.[170]
ADIC aims to establish a strong defence industry relying on the local capabilities of each ASEAN member state, and
limit annual procurement from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) outside the region.[170] Countries like the
USA, Germany, Russia, France, Italy, UK, China, South Korea, Israel, and the Netherlands are among the major
suppliers to ASEAN.[177]
Military expenditures in ASEAN reached US$35.5 billion in 2013 (excluding Brunei and Myanmar), which surpassed
the 2004 figure (US$14.4 billion) by 147% and is expected to exceed US$40 billion by 2016.[178] Factors affecting the
increase in military budget are economic growth, ageing equipment, and the plan to strengthen the establishment of
the defence industry in the region.[179]
There are challenges to the defence collaboration effort in the ASEAN; the unequal level of capabilities among
ASEAN member states in the field of defence industry, and the lack of established defence trade among
them.[173] Prior to the adoption of the ADIC concept, the status of the defence industry base in each of the ASEAN
member states was at disparate level.[173] Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand are among the top ASEAN
member states with an established defence industry base. But, even these four countries possess different levels of
capacity, while the remaining member states like the Philippines, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia have
yet to develop and enhance their capabilities in this aspect.[170][173]
Of the ten ASEAN member states, Singapore and Indonesia are among the most competitive players in the defence
industry. Indonesia is the only ASEAN member state recognised as one of the top 100 global defence suppliers from
2010-2013.[180][181] ASEAN member states purchase virtually no defence products from within ASEAN. Singapore
purchases defence products from Germany, France, and Israel, but none from any of the ASEAN member states.
Malaysia purchased only 0.49% from ASEAN, Indonesia 0.1%, and Thailand 8.02%.[173]

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint[edit]

It was also during the 14th ASEAN Summit that the member governments of ASEAN adopted the ASEAN Socio-
Cultural Community Blueprint (ASCC).[182] The ASCC envisions an: "ASEAN Community that is people-centered and
socially responsible with a view to achieving enduring solidarity and unity among the nations and peoples of ASEAN
by forging a common identity and building a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and harmonious where the
well-being, livelihood, and welfare of the peoples are enhanced". Among its focus areas are: human development,
social welfare and protection, social justice and rights, ensuring environmental sustainability, building the ASEAN
identity, and narrowing the development gap.
The AEC Scorecard[edit]
To track the progress of the AEC, the AEC Scorecard, a compliance tool was developed based on the EU Internal
Market Scorecard, and was adopted by ASEAN.[166] This regional economic scorecard is the only scorecard in
effect[183] and is expected to serve as an unbiased assessment tool to measure the extent of integration among its
members, and the economic health of the region. It is expected to provide relevant information about regional
priorities and in this way foster productive, inclusive, and sustainable growth. Moreover, scores create incentives for
improvement by highlighting what is working and what is not.[184]
The AEC Scorecard is also a compliance tool that makes it possible to monitor the implementation of ASEAN
agreements, and the achievement of milestones indicated in the AEC Strategic Schedule. The Scorecard outlines
specific actions that must be undertaken by ASEAN collectively, and by its member states individually, to establish
an AEC by 2015.[184]
To date, two official scorecards have been published, one in 2010,[185] and the other in 2012.[186] According to
the AEC Scorecard 2012, the implementation rates of AEC's four primary objectives: (a) single market and
production base; (b) competitive economic region; (c) equitable economic development; and (d) integration into the
global economy were 65.9%, 67.9%, 66.7%, and 85.7%, respectively, with 187 out of 277 measures being fully
implemented by 2011.[166]
The AEC Scorecard is purely quantitative. It only examines whether an ASEAN member state has performed the
AEC task or not. The more "yes" answers, the higher the score.[183]
While Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand have eliminated 99.65% of their tariff
lines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam have decreased tariffs on 98.86% of their lines to the 0-5% tariff
range in 2010, and are projected to eliminate tariffs on these goods by 2015, with the ability to do so for a few import
duty lines until 2018.[187]
According to Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry, ASEAN was already the seventh largest
economy in the world, and the third largest in Asia in 2013, estimated at US$2.3 trillion. A recent study by Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu Limited has projected that five of the top fifteen manufacturing locations in the world will be in
ASEAN by 2018. Furthermore, by 2050, ASEAN is also expected to be the fourth-largest economy in the world
(after the European Union, the US, and China).[187]
The AEC envisions the free flow of overseas labour. However, receiving countries may require would-be workers to
take licensing examinations in those countries regardless of whether or not the worker has a professional license
from their home country.[188]
Singapore is the major ASEAN destination for skilled migrants from other ASEAN countries, mostly from Malaysia
and the Philippines. Total employment in Singapore doubled between 1992 and 2008 from 1.5 million to three
million, and the number of foreign workers almost tripled, from fewer than 400,000 to almost 1.1 million. High-skilled
foreign talents (customer service, nursing, engineering, IT) earn at least US$2,000 a month and with a credential
(usually a college degree) receive S Passes, employment passes, including an EP-1 for those earning more than
US$7,000 a month; EP-2 for those earning US$3,500—7,000 a month; and EP-3 for those earning US$2,500–3,500
a month.[189]
In the recent years, Singapore has been slowly cutting down the number of foreign workers to challenge companies
to upgrade their hiring criteria and offer more jobs to local residents. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has
warned that the Singapore policy of reducing the number of foreign workers could retard the country's economic
growth and lower its competitiveness.[190]
Narrowing the Development Gap[edit]
Narrowing the Development Gap (NDG) is ASEAN's framework for addressing disparities among, and within,
member-states where pockets of underdevelopment exist. Under NDG, ASEAN has continued co-ordinating closely
with other subregional co-operation frameworks in the region (e.g., BIMP-EAGA, IMT-GT, GMS, Mekong
programmes), viewing them as "equal partners in the development of regional production and distribution networks"
in the AEC, and as a platform to "mainstream social development issues in developing and implementing projects,"
in the context of the ASCC.[191]
The six-year IAI Work Plans have been developed to assist the CLMV countries as well as ASEAN's other sub-
regions to ensure that the economic wheels of their economies move at an accelerated pace. IAI Work Plan I was
implemented from 2002 to 2008, prior to the development of the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015).
IAI Work Plan II (2009-2015) supports the goals of the ASEAN Community and is composed of 182 prescribed
actions, which includes studies, training programmes, and policy implementation support, conducted through
projects supported by ASEAN-6 countries, and ASEAN's Dialogue partners and external parties. The IAI Work Plan
is patterned after and supports the key programme areas in the three ASEAN Community Blueprints: ASEAN
Political-Security Community Blueprint, ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community Blueprint.
The IAI Task Force, composed of representatives of the Committee of Permanent Representatives and its working
group from all ten ASEAN member states, is in charge of providing general advice and policy guidelines and
directions in the design and implementation of the IAI Work Plan. All ten ASEAN member-states are represented in
the IAI Task Force, with the task force chaired by representatives of the four CLMV countries. Chairmanship is
rotated annually in alphabetical order by country name.
The ASEAN Secretariat, in particular through the IAI and NDG Division, supports the implementation and
management of the IAI Work Plan and coordinates activities related to sub-regional frameworks. This includes
servicing meetings, assisting in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of projects, resource
mobilisation, and overall operational co-ordination among various IAI&NDG-related stakeholders. The Division
works closely with the Dialogue Partners, and international agencies, to develop strategies and programmes to
assist in promoting and implementing IAI and NDG activities in ASEAN.[191]

ASEAN Communication Master Plan[edit]

ASEAN foreign ministers launched the ASEAN Communication Master Plan (ACPM) on 11 November 2014.[192]
The ACPM provides a framework for communicating the character, structure, and overall vision of ASEAN and the
ASEAN community to key audiences within the region and globally.[193] The plan seeks to demonstrate the relevance
and benefits of the ASEAN through fact-based and compelling communications, recognising that the ASEAN
community is unique and different from other country integration models.

ASEAN security blueprint[edit]

The ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism (ACCT) serves as a framework for regional co-operation to counter,
prevent, and suppress terrorism and deepen counter-terrorism co-operation.[194]
ACCT was signed by ASEAN leaders in 2007. The sixth ASEAN member state, Brunei, ratified it on 28 April 2011
and on 27 May 2011, the convention came into force. Malaysia became the tenth member state to ratify ACCT on
11 January 2013.[194]
At the 23rd ASEAN Summit in November 2013, ASEAN Leaders took the decision to develop a Post-2015 Vision,
and thus, got the High Level Task Force (HLTF) which consists of ten high-level Representatives from all ASEAN
Member States. The Vision was adopted at the 27th ASEAN Summit in November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
ASEAN Community revises and renews its Vision in the term of ten years to provide a framework for continuous
development and further integration of the community.
ASEAN Community Vision 2025
The terms in the Vision are divided into mainly four subcategories: ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN
Economic Community, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, and Moving Forward. ASEAN Political-Security issues
are covered under article 7 and 8 of the Vision. Article 7 generally states the overall aspiration of the community
aiming to achieve a united, inclusive and resilient community. It also puts human and enviroenmental security at the
center of its aspirations. Deepening engagement with both internal Members and eternal parties are also stressed to
contribute the international peace, security and stability.[195]
The final part of the Vision, under “Moving Forward” subcategory, implies the acknowledgement of the weakness of
the institution capacity to process and coordinate ASEAN work. Strengthening ASEAN Secretariat and other ASEAN
Organs and Bodies is desired. There is also a call for greater level of ASEAN institutional presence at the national,
regional and international levels.
Environment[edit]

Haze over Borneo, 2006

 Plastic waste dumping: A study based on 2010 data concluded that five ASEAN nations are among the top
ten (of 192 countries with ocean shorelines, Laos not among them as it is landlocked) dumpers of plastic waste
into the ocean. Indonesia was ranked the second worst polluter; the Philippines third; Vietnam fourth; Thailand
sixth; and Malaysia eighth.[196]
 Threatened mammal species: ASEAN nations fared poorly in this World Bank study: Indonesia was number
one of 214 nations (1=worst, 214= best) on the world list of threatened mammals, with 184 species under threat.
The remaining ASEAN nations were ranked, Malaysia, 7; Thailand, 9; Vietnam, 12; Myanmar, 14; Laos, 15; the
Philippines, 19; Cambodia, 20; Brunei, 25; and Singapore, 93, of 214 countries.[197]
 Threatened fish species: ASEAN member-state Indonesia ranked fifth of 215 nations (1=worst, 215=best) in
fish species at risk; Thailand ranked 12; the Philippines, 18; Malaysia, 19; Vietnam, 20; Laos, 29; Cambodia, 51;
Myanmar, 52; Singapore, 84; and Brunei, 175.[198]
 Threatened (higher) plant species: The World Bank estimated in 2014 that, worldwide, 13,583 higher plant
species are threatened. Of 215 nations, Malaysia ranked number two of 215 (1=worst, 216=best) in number of
species threatened (133 species). Indonesia ranked sixth; the Philippines, 16; Vietnam, 21; Thailand, 26;
Brunei, 33; Singapore, 53; Myanmar, 59; Cambodia, 74; and Laos, 75.[199]
 Deforestation: Indonesia lost 17 million hectares of tree cover from 2001-2013, the fifth largest loss of 203
nations. Malaysia ranked eighth (5 Mha loss); Myanmar, 19 (2 Mha); Cambodia, 23 (1.5 Mha); Laos, 24 (1.4
Mha); Vietnam, 27 (1.3 Mha); Thailand, 29 (1.1 Mha); the Philippines, 39 (664 Kha); Brunei, 117 (18 Kha); and
Singapore, 155 (867 ha).[200]
At the turn of the 21st century, ASEAN began to discuss environmental agreements. These included the signing of
the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in 2002 as an attempt to control haze pollution in
Southeast Asia.[201] Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful due to the outbreaks of haze in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2013,
and 2015. As of 2015, thirteen years after signing the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, the
situation with respect to the long term issue of Southeast Asian haze has not been changed for 50% of
the ASEAN member states, and still remains as a crisis every two years during summer and fall.[202][203][204]
Yet other serious issues like the dumping of trash from foreign nations such as Japan and Canada to ASEAN has
yet to be discussed. In 2015, tons of trash labelled as plastics for recycling, was shipped from Canada to Manila; an
issue that has yet to be resolved.[205]

Education[edit]
While high performing Asian economies and the six oldest ASEAN members have invested heavily in public
education at the primary and secondary levels, tertiary education has been left largely to the private
sector.[206] Tertiary education in Southeast Asia is, in general, relatively weak in terms of technological capacity and
integration such as in credit transfer schemes. Singapore is highly focused on innovation while the rest of the region
lags behind.[207] In most cases, universities are focused on teaching and service to government rather than academic
research. Universities in Southeast Asia, both in terms of academic salaries and research infrastructure (libraries,
laboratories), tend to be poorly supported financially. Moreover, regional academic journals cater to their local
audiences and respond less to international standards which makes universal or regional benchmarking difficult.[208]
Governments have a vested interest in investing in education and other aspects of human capital infrastructure,
especially rapidly developing nations such as those within ASEAN. In the short run, investment spending directly
supports aggregate demand and growth. In the longer term, investments in physical
infrastructure, productivity enhancements, and provision of education and health services determine the potential for
growth.[209]
Educational integration[edit]
To enhance regional co-operation in education, ASEAN education ministers have agreed four priorities for
education: (1) Promoting ASEAN awareness among ASEAN citizens, particularly youth; (2) Strengthening ASEAN
identity through education; (3) Building ASEAN human resources in the field of education; and (4) Strengthening
the ASEAN University Network.[210]
At the 11th ASEAN Summit in December 2005, ASEAN leaders set new directions for regional education
collaboration when they welcomed the decision of the ASEAN education ministers to convene meetings on a regular
basis. The annual ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting oversees ASEAN co-operation efforts on education at the
ministerial level. With regard to implementation, programmes, and activities are carried out by the ASEAN Senior
Officials on Education (SOM-ED). SOM-ED also manages co-operation on higher education through the ASEAN
University Network (AUN).[211]
ASEAN university network[edit]
Main article: ASEAN University Network

The ASEAN University Network (AUN) is a consortium of Southeast Asian tertiary institutions of which thirty
currently belong as participating universities.[212] Founded in November 1995 by eleven universities within
the member states,[213] the AUN was established to:[210]

 Promote co-operation among ASEAN scholars, academics, and scientists in the region
 Develop academic and professional human resources in the region
 Promote information dissemination among the ASEAN academic community
 Enhance awareness of a regional identity and the sense of "ASEAN-ness" among members
Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network Project[edit]
The Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (SEED-Net) Project, was established as an
autonomous sub-network of the ASEAN University Network (AUN) in April 2001. SEED-Net is aimed at promoting
human resource development in engineering in ASEAN. The network consists of twenty-six member institutions
selected by higher education ministries of each ASEAN member state, and eleven supporting Japanese universities
selected by the Japanese government. This network is mainly supported by the Japanese government through
the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and partially supported by the ASEAN Foundation. SEED-Net
activities are implemented by the SEED-Net secretariat with the support of the JICA Project for SEED-Net now
based at Chulalongkorn University.
ASEAN Scholarship[edit]
The ASEAN Scholarship is a scholarship programme offered by Singapore to the nine other member states for
secondary school, junior college, and university education. It covers accommodation, food, medical benefits and
accident insurance, school fees, and examination fees. Scholarship recipients, who then perform well on the GCE
Advanced LevelExamination, may apply for ASEAN undergraduate scholarships, which are tailored specifically to
undergraduate institutions in Singapore and other ASEAN member countries.[214]Singapore has used this programme
effectively to attract many of the best students from the ASEAN region over the past several years, and scholars for
the most part tend to remain in Singapore to pursue undergraduate studies through the ASEAN Undergraduate
Scholarship programme.[215]
Literacy rates[edit]
The table below shows literacy rates among 15- to 24-year-old youths from 10 ASEAN member states as reported
to the United Nations.[216]

Year (most Adult (15+) Adult Adult Youth (15-24) Youth Youth
Country
recent) literacy rate men women literacy rate men women

Brunei 2009 95% 97% 94% 100% 100% 100%

2008 78% 85% 71% 87% 89% 86%

Cambodia

2008 92% 95% 89% 99% 100% 99%

Indonesia

Laos 2005 73% 82% 63% 84% 89% 79%

Malaysia 2015 96% 95% 94% 93% 95% 96%

2009 92% 95% 90% 96% 96% 95%

Myanmar

Philippines 2015 98% 97% 96% 98% 98% 98%

2009 95% 97% 92% 100% 100% 100%

Singapore
 Year (most Adult (15+) Adult Adult Youth (15-24) Youth Youth
Country
recent) literacy rate men women literacy rate men women

2015 94% 96% 92% 98% 98% 98%

Thailand

2009 93% 95% 91% 97% 97% 96%

Vietnam

Culture and sport[edit]

The organisation hosts cultural activities in an attempt to further integrate the region. These include sports and
educational activities as well as writing awards. Examples of these include the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and
the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award
Heritage parks[edit]
Main article: ASEAN Heritage Parks

ASEAN Heritage Parks aim to protect the region's natural treasures. There are now 37 such protected areas,
including the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park and the Kinabalu National Park.[217]
Songs and music[edit]

 "The ASEAN Way", the official regional anthem of ASEAN. Music by Kittikhun Sodprasert and Sampow
Triudom; lyrics by Payom Valaiphatchra.
 "ASEAN Song of Unity" or "ASEAN Hymn". Music by Ryan Cayabyab.
 "Let Us Move Ahead", an ASEAN song. Composed by Candra Darusman.
 "ASEAN Rise", ASEAN's 40th anniversary song. Music by Dick Lee; lyrics by Stefanie Sun.
 "ASEAN Spirit", ASEAN's 50th anniversary song. Performed by Christian Bautista; directed by Joaquin
Pedro Valdes.
ASEAN competitions[edit]

 Southeast Asian Games

 ASEAN University Games
 ASEAN School Games
 ASEAN Para Games
 ASEAN Football Championship
 SEABA Championship
2030 FIFA world cup bid[edit]
In January 2011 ASEAN foreign ministers agreed to bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030 as a single entity.[218][219]
Performance in international competitions[edit]
Main article: Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries in sporting events

Reception[edit]
Throughout its existence, ASEAN has been lauded globally for its numerous achievements, including its efforts for
making strides in the economic, political, socio-cultural and security arena, deterring large-scale regional conflicts,
nurturing a habit of dialogues and cooperation to maximize its common interests, successfully leading several
multilateral cooperation mechanisms for regional peace and prosperity, and being one of the main driving seats and
the centrality in the Asia-Pacific region. It is credited as one of the most successful and influential intergovernmental
organisations in the world.[220][221][222][223][224][225][226][227][228]
In 2017, ASEAN received high approval ratings, with 80 per cent of Southeast Asians having a positive view of the
organisation, and 88 per cent of them expressing optimism about the grouping's future.[229]

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However, the success of ASEAN has been met with criticism. Critics have charged that ASEAN is too soft in its
approach to promoting human rights and democracy, particularly in junta-led Burma.[230] Some scholars think that
non-interference has hindered ASEAN efforts to handle the problems of Myanmar, human rights abuse, and haze
pollution in the area. Despite global outrage at the military crack-down on unarmed protesters in Yangon, ASEAN
has refused to suspend Burma as a member, and also rejects proposals for economic sanctions.[231] This has caused
concern as the European Union has refused to conduct free trade negotiations at a regional level for these political
reasons.[232] Some international observers view ASEAN as a "talk shop",[233] stating that the organisation is: "big on
words, but small on action".[234] "ASEAN policies have proven to be mostly rhetoric, rather than actual
implementation", according to Pokpong Lawansiri, a Bangkok-based independent analyst of ASEAN. "It has been
noted that less than 50% of ASEAN agreements are actually implemented, while ASEAN holds more than six
hundred meetings annually".[235]
The head of the International Institute of Strategic Studies – Asia, Tim Huxley, cites the diverse political systems
present in the grouping, including many young states, as a barrier to far-reaching co-operation outside the economic
sphere. He also asserts that, in the absence of an external threat to rally against with the end of the Cold War,
ASEAN has begun to be less successful at restraining its members and resolving border disputes such as those
between Burma and Thailand and Indonesia and Malaysia.[236] During the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, several
activist groups staged anti-globalisation protests.[237] According to the activists, the agenda of economic integration
would negatively affect industries in the Philippines and would cause thousands of Filipinos to lose their jobs.[238]
There are also several territorial disputes between ASEAN members that affecting the unity between ASEAN
nations such as the Cambodian–Thai border dispute (Khao Phra Wihan National Park) and the continuous claim
over parts of Malaysia by certain politicians in the Philippines,[239] who also seems supporting militants raids over
neighbouring country.[240][241][242] Beside that, the biggest criticism ASEAN currently facing is the tensions caused by
the South China Sea dispute, which involves the following four member states: the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia,
and Brunei.
The Philippines has been the most vocal against Chinese incursions in the dispute, even bringing its case against
China to a United Nations international tribunal in the Hague, the first case filed by a nation against China. Vietnam,
Japan, and other Western countries,[vague] especially the United States, have strongly supported the Philippines.
Vietnam, bordered both by land and sea with China, has also claims all the Spratly Islands. This dispute focuses on
the Paracel Islands, which China has occupied following the Battle of the Paracel Islands, in 1974. Brunei, claiming
only one reef, has been silent on the issue ever since it began, mostly because of its trade with China. Malaysia, a
nation with deep economic ties to China, and a nation with billions in Chinese investment, has remained neutral and
'China-friendly' over the conflict. This despite China claiming various reefs and islands in the Spratlys as well as
most of its territorial waters and exclusive economic zones in Borneo.
ASEAN has yet to be united in the face of China's massive reclamation activities and incursions in the South China
Sea, especially when China is heavily supported by member states. Myanmar and Laos have been former 'satellite
nations' of China and are still heavily influenced by China. Thailand has yet to take a concrete stand on the issue. Of
the member states not yet involved in the dispute, Indonesia has supported the diplomatic approach of the
Philippines many times.[vague][citation needed] Indonesia's exclusive economic zone in its Natuna Islands overlaps with
the nine-dash line of China. Taiwan, also a claimant, has no concrete relations with any ASEAN states, but has an
informal office in the Philippines. China has only accepted bilateral talks for solving the disputes. Vietnam, the
Philippines, China, Malaysia, and even Taiwan have been building their military bases and there is great concern
over the possibility of military conflict over the issue.
Corruption remains a widespread issue across the member states, as "tea money" remains an important
requirement to grease business transactions and to receive public services in Southeast Asia. Following the release
of the Corruption Perceptions Index 2015 by Berlin-based graft watchdog Transparency International on 27 January,
its Asia Pacific director, Srirak Plipat, noted that: "if there was one common challenge to unite the Asia-Pacific
region, it would be corruption", noting that: "from campaign pledges to media coverage to civil society forums,
corruption dominates the discussion. Yet despite all this talk, there's little sign of action."[243]
During a general meeting in 2016, ASEAN failed to include a united statement which includes the International Court
ruling on the South China Sea, filed and won by the Philippines against China, due to Cambodia's rejection of the
ruling being part of the official ASEAN statement.
At the last summit in China, two countries, Turkey and Mongolia have spoken out to the chairman Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte about their intentions to join the association of countries. Duterte has stated that there is
no problem with this and might consider their inclusion to the association despite their geographical locations.[244]
ASEAN has also failed to abolish human rights violations in West Papua, including Irian Jaya, committed by
Indonesian military officials and political authorities. It is estimated that more than 500,000 indigenous Papuans
have been killed in the name of Indonesian nationalism by Indonesian authorities. Native Papuans have been
lobbying for independence from Indonesia since the 1900s, however, they have not succeeded due to intense
Indonesian army operations which resulted in expansive genocide. Independence organizations in the western half
of Papua vocalized their concerns and aspiration to ASEAN, however, no action was made by the association. In
2014, all independence movement groups in West Papua and Iriran Jaya finally formed under a single umbrella
organization, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).[245] Due to the December 2016
Independence Rally in West Papua,[246] where more than 500 native Papuans were arrested by Indonesian officials,
a bloc of nations swore to support the West Papua Independence Movement in the entrance of 2017. Among these
coalition of nations are Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Tuvalu, Palau, and the Marshall Islands. The FLNKS,
which represents New CaledoniaIndependence Movement, also supported the West Papua independence
movement.[247] The bloc of nations lambasted Indonesia's human rights record in West Papua, which includes Irian
Jaya, and the referendum conducted by Indonesia to control the region, where only 0.02% of the population were
allowed by Indonesia to vote in a previous referendum marred by political threats from Indonesian authorities. The
ambassador of Guinea-Bissau implied that the movement is the same with the movement made by Timor-Leste,
and thus should be respected. The probable support base of the African leader is due to the support of the
Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who backed West Papuan independence from Indonesia. On the other hand,
the ambassador of Papua New Guinea spoke against the coalition of nations due to ties with Indonesia, despite
being ethnically and geographically related to West Papua. All of the statements made were committed during the
2017 meeting of Council of Ministers of the 79-member Africa Caribbean Pacific Group of States (ACP). The
indigenous Maori people of New Zealand also expressed their support for West Papua during the ULMWP's visit in
the country. The Aborigines of Australia also expressed their support for the movement. In the 2017 United Nations
General Assembly, a petition for a UN-backed referendum in West Papua was submitted by more than 1.5 million
West Papuans through their leader, Benny Wanda, in the United Nations. However, the head of the committee in
reference to the submission blocked the petition as Indonesia was a member of the committee.[248][249]
During a United Nations vote against the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya people in Myanmar, majority of Southeast
Asian nations voted to either abstain or against the condemnation. Only Muslim-majority countries Malaysia,
Indonesia, and Brunei voted in favor of condemning the Muslim Rohingya cleansing of Myanmar.[250]

Current leaders[edit]


Brunei
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen

Indonesia
President Joko Widodo

Laos
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith

Malaysia
Prime Minister Najib Razak
 

Myanmar
President Htin Kyaw

Philippines
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

Singapore
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

Thailand
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

Vietnam
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc

See also[edit]

 Geography portal

 Asia portal

 Southeast Asia portal

 ASEAN Common Time

 ASE