The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly referred to as ASEAN, is an organization established in 1967 by the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. Its primary purpose is to enhance economic growth, promote peace, enhance security, encourage social progress, and facilitate cultural development within the Southeast Asian region. ASEAN summit of 2023 is being held at Indonesia.
ASEAN’s History
On the 8th of August 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, the founding leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines signed the Bangkok Declaration, also known as the ASEAN Declaration. This historic event marked the official establishment of ASEAN. Over the years, ASEAN expanded its membership, and it currently comprises ten countries:
1. Thailand (founding member)
2. The Philippines (founding member)
3. Malaysia (founding member)
4. Singapore (founding member)
5. Indonesia (founding member)
6. Brunei (joined in 1984)
7. Vietnam (joined in 1995)
8. Lao PDR (joined in 1997)
9. Myanmar (joined in 1997)
10. Cambodia (joined in 1999)
ASEAN also has two observer states: Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste (East Timor).
ASEAN Headquarters
ASEAN’s headquarters are situated in Jakarta, Indonesia.
– Secretary-General: Dato Lim Jock Hoi
– Official Languages: Burmese, Filipino, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, Thai, and Vietnamese
– Working Language: English
ASEAN’s Purpose
The fundamental goals of ASEAN is :
1. Facilitating economic growth, cultural development, and social progress in the region through collaborative initiatives that prioritize partnership and equality, thus establishing a peaceful and robust Southeast Asian community.
2. Promoting peace and stability in the region by upholding principles of justice, the rule of law, and adherence to United Nations principles in international relations.
3. Encouraging active collaboration and mutual assistance across various domains, including social, economic, cultural, administrative, scientific, and technical areas.
4. Assisting member countries through educational, administrative, technical, and professional training and research facilities.
5. Cooperating to enhance agriculture and industries, expand trade (including addressing international commodity trade issues), improve communication and transportation infrastructure, and elevate living standards for the people.
6. Promoting Southeast Asian studies.
7. Exploring opportunities for further cooperation among member states and maintaining close collaboration with other international groups that share similar objectives.
ASEAN summit 2023 is being held at Jakarta,Indonesia.
