Backgrounder: Association of Southeast Asian Nations

23/10/2009

The 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related summits will beheld here between Oct. 23 and 25. The following is some basic facts about the 10-member regional organization.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok by the five original member countries, comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.

The latest official figures showed that the ASEAN region, with a total population of about 560 million and a total area of 4.5 million square km, saw its combined GDP volume and total trade respectively amounted to some 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars, and 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars.

The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association are to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region, and to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

In 2003, the ASEAN leaders resolved that an ASEAN Community shall be established comprising three pillars, namely, ASEAN Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio- Cultural Community.

The highest decision-making organ of ASEAN is the Meeting of the ASEAN Heads of State and Government. The ASEAN Summit is convened every year. Source: Xinhua