The goal of ASEAN unification. ASEAN member countries: list
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok by five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Brunei joined the organization in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. Thus, ASEAN currently has 10 member states. Papua New Guinea has special observer status.
The Bangkok Declaration on the Establishment of ASEAN defines the statutory goals of the Association as promoting the development of socio-economic and cultural cooperation of member countries, strengthening peace and stability in Southeast Asia. The legal basis for relations between the countries of the Association is the ASEAN Declaration of Accord of 1976, the Second Declaration of ASEAN Accord (“Bali Accord-2”) of 2003, as well as the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (Bali Treaty) of 1976, which has allowed since 1987 possibility of accession of extra-regional states. China and India joined it in October 2003, Japan and Pakistan in July 2004, Russia and South Korea in November 2004, New Zealand and Mongolia in July 2005, and Australia in December 2005.
The initial role of the Association was political rather than economic. Since its inception, the most significant agreements have been concluded by member countries in the field of political and security cooperation, including the 1971 Declaration defining Southeast Asia as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the ASEAN Declaration. They were aimed at maintaining peace within the region and building a community free from the influence of external forces. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation is a kind of code of international relations in the region in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
In 2004, in order to strengthen the organizational and legal basis of the Association's activities, it was decided to develop the ASEAN Charter. On November 20, 2007, during the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore, timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Association, the ASEAN Charter was signed by the leaders of the Ten. Its adoption became the starting point of a new stage in the evolution of ASEAN, its transformation into a full-fledged regional organization with international legal personality. To do this, the Charter must be ratified by all member countries of the Association.
In the economic sphere, the Association countries are pursuing close interaction and liberalization in the Southeast Asian subregion on the basis of the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the Framework Agreement on the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) and the Industrial Cooperation Scheme, which entered into force on January 1, 2002 ASEAN (AICO).
During the 13th ASEAN Summit on November 20 in Singapore, the Plan for the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 was signed. The document provides for a set of measures to liberalize and harmonize the policies of the “ten” countries in trade, customs and tariffs, investment, financial, competition, production, as well as in the services and employment sectors.
Today ASEAN, with its 570 million population, total GDP of 1.1 trillion. US dollars, foreign trade turnover of 1.4 trillion. US dollars and economic growth rates that are faster than the world average, it represents the center of integration processes in the Asia-Pacific region and the new balance of power emerging there.
An important place in the foreign policy activities of the Association is occupied by the work to create a zone free of nuclear weapons in Southeast Asia. The corresponding treaty was signed in Bangkok in 1995 and came into force in 1997. ASEAN countries are seeking its recognition by nuclear powers and are currently holding consultations with the Five, including Russia, on finalizing the text of the Protocol on their accession to the Treaty
Political, economic and cultural regional intergovernmental organization of countries located in Southeast Asia. ASEAN was formed on August 8 1967 in Bangkok along with the signing of the “ASEAN Declaration”, better known as the “Bangkok Declaration”. The ASEAN treaty formalization took place only in 1976 year in the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the ASEAN Declaration of Accord signed on the island of Bali.
Directly forming states were Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Brunei Darussalam (January 7, 1984, 6 days after independence), Vietnam, (July 28, 1995), Laos and Myanmar (July 23, 1997), Cambodia (April 30, 1999) joined later. At the moment, Papua New Guinea has observer status.
ASEAN member countries have a population of about 500 million people, a total area of 4.5 million km2, and their combined GDP reaches about 737 billion US dollars.
ASEAN GOALS: In accordance with the Bangkok Declaration, the goals of the organization are:
Establishing peace and stability in the region through adherence to the principles of the UN Charter
Accelerating the economic, social and cultural development of its member states through cooperation and mutual assistance
Maintaining mutually beneficial cooperation with general and regional international organizations that have similar goals
TASKS: creation of a Customs Union within the framework of agreements on preferential trade, joint industrial facilities and commodity associations of countries of various types of trade.
In 1992 at the summit in Singapore - decision to form an FTA. The strategic goal is to increase the efficiency of member countries by eliminating trade barriers, increasing the attractiveness of states for foreign investment, and achieving economic stability in the region.
Main directions:
Reducing duty rates to 0-5% on industrial and agricultural products, excluding petrochemical, automotive, and metallurgy products;
Introduction of a general effective preferential tariff; harmonization of national standards in accordance with international standards;
Elimination of quantity restrictions in mutual industrial trade;
Introduction of the principle of mutual recognition in relation to quality certificates;
Agreement on the formation of an investment zone- October 7, 1998 The goal is the formation of a competitive investment zone with a more liberal and transparent regime for the growth of intra- and extra-regional investments; increasing the competitiveness of the economies of the participating countries; progressive reduction or elimination of investment barriers and rules that impede capital flows and the implementation of investment projects within ASEAN.
ASEAN has Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia(Bali Treaty) of 1976, which allowed the possibility of accession by extra-regional states from 1987. China and India joined it in October 2003, Japan and Pakistan in July 2004, Russia and South Korea in November 2004, New Zealand and Mongolia in July 2005, and Australia in December 2005. THEY ARE NOT IN ASEAN just to the edd agreement.
The initial role of the Association was political rather than economic. Since its inception, the most significant agreements have been concluded by member countries in the field of political and security cooperation, including the 1971 Declaration defining Southeast Asia as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the ASEAN Declaration. They were aimed at maintaining peace within the region and building a community free from the influence of external forces. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation is a kind of code of international relations in the region in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
In 2004, in order to strengthen the organizational and legal basis for the activities of the Association, it was decided to develop the ASEAN Charter. November 20, 2007. during the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Association, Charter ASEAN was signed by the G-10 leaders. Its adoption became the starting point of a new stage in the evolution of ASEAN, its transformation into a full-fledged regional organization with international legal personality.
In the economic sphere, the Association countries are pursuing close interaction and liberalization in the Southeast Asian subregion on the basis of the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the Framework Agreement on the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) and the Industrial Cooperation Scheme, which entered into force on January 1, 2002 ASEAN (AICO).
During the 13th ASEAN Summit on November 20 in Singapore, the Plan for the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 was signed. The document provides for a set of measures to liberalize and harmonize the policies of the “ten” countries in trade, customs and tariffs, investment, financial, competition, production, as well as in services and employment.
Supreme body of ASEAN are meetings of heads of state and government. The governing and coordinating mechanism is regular meetings of foreign ministers. The current management of the Association's activities is carried out by the Standing Committee, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country - the current chairman of ASEAN, which rotate in alphabetical order (currently Singapore).
The ASEAN Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, functions in Jakarta. The ASEAN Secretary General is appointed for a term of five years. In 2003-2007 This post was held by Singaporean Ong Keng Yong; on January 1, 2008, he was replaced by former Thai Foreign Minister S. Pitsuwan for another five-year term. ASEAN Secretariat staff are selected through open competition throughout the region.
ASEAN has 11 specialized committees, and more than 300 events are held annually, including meetings of ministers of economy and trade, heads of law enforcement agencies, etc.
ASEAN has its own armed forces - the Navy, which conduct joint exercises.
DIRECTIONS:
1) Promote the socio-economic development of all population groups, including migrants.
2) Confront the terrorist challenge; actively promote the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from nuclear weapons.
3) Develop energy cooperation within ASEAN, including the creation of a unified energy system and the construction of the Trans-ASEAN gas pipeline.
In the 70s, the so-called system was born. dialogues of the Association with the leading states of the world, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region, which maintain active political and economic ties with it. Full-scale partners in dialogue with ASEAN are 9 countries (Australia, India, Canada, China, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, USA, Japan), as well as the EU and UNDP. Pakistan is the sectoral partner of the Association for Dialogue.
Dialogue interaction is carried out using special mechanisms, the main ones being the Joint Cooperation Committees (JCC).
ASEAN Regional Forum was created in 1994 as part of preventive diplomacy. The meetings are held annually in one of the ASEAN capitals.
According to the chairman's bulletin at the first ARF, the objectives of the ARF are:
1) promoting constructive dialogue and consultations on political and security issues;
2) making a significant contribution to efforts aimed at building trust and preventive diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region.
An ASEAN CENTER has been opened at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University). Joint Russia-ASEAN Declaration on Cooperation in the Fight against International Terrorism (July 2, 2004, Jakarta, Indonesia); I will erase the dialogue financial fund. RF AND ASEAN
3) Facing tiles of the same quality cost 5 euros in Russia, 3 euros in Ukraine. and in Moldova - 2.6 units. Russia introduces a 100% import tariff on the import of tiles from Ukraine and Moldova.
a) Will Russia continue to import tiles?
b) If after this Russia and Ukraine create a customs union, will Russia produce tiles itself or import them?
Answer:
a) Russia will not import tiles from any country, since it is more expensive than domestic production. The domestic price is CU 5, and the price of tiles from Ukraine, taking into account the tariff, is CU 6. (3 + 3), from Moldova - 5.2 units. (2.6 + 2.6).
b) After the creation of the customs union, we should expect at least partial imports of tiles from Ukraine.
In the second half of the twentieth century, trends towards globalization and integration of national economies began to prevail on the planet. In the post-World War II period, a number of regional intergovernmental organizations were created around the world. One of them was the ASEAN formation. The countries of Asia that are part of it have a number of differences in political, economic and cultural terms. But they all united for the purpose of mutually beneficial cooperation, primarily in the monetary, financial, trade and military spheres.
When was the Association of Southeast Asian Nations formed? What is the structure and main goals of this organization? What are the key features that distinguish the economies of ASEAN member countries? All this will be discussed in our article.
A short excursion into history. Creation of ASEAN
“Moscow was not built in a day,” as one famous song says. The same can be said about this international organization. In the region, it was preceded by the military-political bloc SEATO, as well as the ASA alliance (Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand). But these associations turned out to be short-lived due to the narrowness of the goals set for them. The states of Southeast Asia needed closer and more diverse integration.
On August 8, 1967, foreign ministers from five countries met in Bangkok and signed the so-called ASEAN Declaration. The countries participating in this meeting (thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines) formed the backbone of the future organization. This day is considered the date of formation of ASEAN, and the five ministers are considered the founding fathers of the association. Subsequently, the composition of ASEAN doubled.
The founders of the organization had two main motives:
- Commitment to economic revival and development.
- The desire to distance oneself from the leading powers of the world, to leave the sphere of their political influence.
The organization's abbreviation comes from the first letters of its official name. It reads in full like this: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (in the original - A ssociation of S outh-E ast A sian N ations).
ASEAN: general information about the organization
ASEAN's headquarters are located in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Secretary General (as of 2017) of the organization is the representative of Thailand, Surin Pitsuwan.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has huge reserves of various natural resources (mineral, energy, water, forestry). In addition, the group occupies an extremely advantageous geographical position - at the intersection of important sea trade routes. These two factors contribute to the development of the international organization and the deepening of relations between its members.
At the same time, the countries that are members of ASEAN are quite different from each other in economic development, features of the political system, living standards of the population, cultural and religious traditions. All this significantly slows down integration processes within the organization.
ASEAN Composition
We have already named the five founding countries of the organization. The first replenishment of its composition occurred only 17 years later. The tiny Sultanate of Brunei, which gained independence in 1984, immediately became a member of ASEAN. Vietnam became the next country to join this international grouping. This happened in 1995. Two years later, the Association added a couple of new members - Laos and Myanmar. In 1999, Cambodia joined the organization.
Thus, the ASEAN member countries are practically all the states of Southeast Asia. With the exception of East Timor. However, in 2011, the government of this small state applied for membership in the organization. Therefore, it is quite possible that in the coming years the Southeast Asian region will be fully represented in the Association. In the meantime, East Timor's application is stuck at the consideration stage.
Thus, the countries included in ASEAN today are:
- Indonesia.
- Cambodia.
- Vietnam.
- Thailand.
- Myanmar.
- Laos.
- Malaysia.
- Brunei.
- Singapore.
- Philippines.
Main goals of the organization
Back in 1977, an agreement came into force that significantly simplified trade relations between the member countries of the organization. In 1992, a special regional free trade area was created within ASEAN. According to many experts, this event became the main achievement in the work of the Association. Another important victory for ASEAN is the signing of a treaty establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone within the organization's countries.
Today, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations sets itself a number of important tasks. Among them:
- intensification of economic growth and social progress of states in the region;
- strengthening stability and peace in the countries of Southeast Asia;
- active cooperation of the participating countries in the fields of culture, education and science;
- finding more efficient ways of farming;
- increasing regional trade volumes between ASEAN countries;
- establishing and establishing strong and beneficial connections with other countries and intergovernmental organizations.
ASEAN structure
The highest structural body in ASEAN is the summit of leaders of participating countries. It takes place every two years and lasts three days. In addition, meetings and conferences of the finance ministers of the states that are members of the organization are held annually.
All affairs and pressing issues of the Association are dealt with by a permanent committee, which includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the presiding country, as well as the ambassadors of the other member states of the organization. The presiding country changes every year, according to the alphabetical order of the names of the states (in English).
In addition to all this, ongoing work is carried out within ASEAN in 11 committees and 122 working groups. Every year the Association organizes and successfully conducts about 300 different events.
The legal basis of the organization is a package of three documents. These are the Declaration of August 8, 1967, the so-called Bali Treaty (1976), as well as the ASEAN Charter, signed in Singapore in 2007.
ASEAN Countries: Philippines
The Philippines is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean consisting of more than seven thousand islands. The Human Development Index (hereinafter referred to as HDI) is average (117th place in the world). The country has been a member of ASEAN since 1967, since the founding of this international organization.
The Philippines is a presidential republic with a dynamically developing market economy. This is an agrarian-industrial country with a fairly developed chemical, textile, pharmaceutical industry, as well as agriculture. The main exports of the Philippines are bananas, pineapples, rice, coconuts. The country invests a lot of money in the development of science, in particular agronomy, horticulture, medicine and pediatrics.
Indonesia
Indonesia is the largest island nation on the planet, consisting of approximately 13 thousand islands. HDI is average (110th place in the world).
Indonesia is an agrarian-industrial country with the most developed mining, oil refining and agriculture industries. Rice, cassava and sweet potatoes are grown here for export. Tourism also brings significant income to the national budget. Despite the market nature of the Indonesian economy, the role of the state in it is quite large and significant. In particular, the state owns more than a hundred large enterprises here. The government also regulates pricing in the country.
Thailand
Thailand is a country located on the Indochina and Malacca peninsulas. The HDI is high (89th in the world). The state has been a member of ASEAN since 1967 and one of its founders.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. It is an agrarian-industrial country with developed electronics, agriculture and light industry. Tourism brings huge income to the country.
Singapore
Singapore is a tiny city-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. A unique country with free education, huge taxes on cars and a complete lack of taxation for the IT sector. The HDI is very high (11th in the world). GDP per capita is $51,600. Singapore has been a member of ASEAN since 1967.
Singapore is one of the richest and most successful countries in the world. In just 30 years, the country has made a huge leap in its development, largely due to its extremely favorable geographical location and skillful management of financial resources. Electronics, services, shipbuilding and biotechnology are most developed here.
Malaysia
Malaysia is another “Asian tiger”, a country that achieved fantastic economic success in the second half of the twentieth century. The HDI in the state is high (59th place in the world).
Today's Malaysia is a state with a very flexible and dynamically developing economy. The author of the “Malaysian miracle” is the former Prime Minister of the country, Mahathir Mohamad. The subsoil of Malaysia is extremely rich in oil and gas resources, tin and other metals. Nevertheless, the country is betting on the development of electronics and tourism.
Brunei
Brunei is a small state on the coast of the island of Kalimantan, home to only 400 thousand people. The HDI is very high (31st in the world). The GDP per capita is $71,759. Brunei became a member of ASEAN in 1984.
“Islamic Disneyland” - this is how this country is called for its wealth and prosperity. The reason for this is the huge reserves of oil and gas. Thanks to their production and export, the state can boast of one of the leading places in Asia in terms of the standard of living of its citizens. However, no other sectors of the economy are practically developing in Brunei.
Vietnam
Vietnam is a country on the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula. HDI is average (116th place in the world). In 1995, Vietnam joined the ASEAN organization.
Vietnam is one of the few countries in Asia that has long tried to preserve the communist model of economic management. This state is still recovering from a protracted war that lasted from 1962 to 1975. Vietnam is an agricultural country with a backward economy. Its main exports are textiles, seafood, footwear, plastic products, and mobile devices and accessories.
Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia
Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia are the three poorest states in ASEAN. The GDP per capita in these countries does not exceed $2,000. According to the HDI index, they are in 138th, 149th and 143rd places, respectively.
Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar are agricultural countries with rather backward economies. Most of the population is employed in agriculture (in Laos - up to 80%!). One of the main factors hindering the development of the economies of these three Southeast Asian countries is the almost complete lack of infrastructure.
Laos is Asia's largest producer of opium and heroin. In 2015, the total area of opium poppy plantations in this country was over 5,000 hectares. But tourism is quite well developed in Cambodia. Travelers to this distant country are attracted by first-class beaches, mild climate, low prices, delicious cuisine and local exotica.
Finally…
ASEAN is an organization that has played a significant role in the economic development of Southeast Asian countries. Over the course of several decades, this region has transformed from frankly backward to one of the most advanced. Another merit of ASEAN is the significant reduction in local armed conflicts and disputes in this part of the planet.
One of the main tasks in the organization's work for the near future is to gradually overcome the deep gap in economic development between its members.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the largest interstate political and economic organization in the region. Its tasks include solving many issues in various fields of activity at the intergovernmental level. At the same time, over the years of its existence, the organization has significantly transformed and undergone changes. Let's define what the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is and find out the reasons for its creation.
Background of creation
First of all, let's dwell on the events that preceded the formation of ASEAN.
Prerequisites for the integration of countries in the region began to appear after the end of the Second World War and their independence. But initially these processes were more of a military-political, rather than economic, nature. This was due to the fact that the former metropolises, although they granted independence to their colonies, at the same time tried not to lose political influence in the region and prevent the establishment of communist regimes in Indochina.
The result of these aspirations was the emergence in 1955-1956 of the military-political bloc SEATO, which provided for the provision of collective defense in the region. The organization included the following states: Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan, Australia, USA, France, Great Britain. In addition, the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Vietnam closely cooperated with the bloc. But this military-political alliance did not last long. At first, a number of countries left it, and in 1977 it was finally abolished. The reason was the decreasing interest of the former metropolises in the affairs of the region, the defeat of the United States in the Indochina War, as well as the establishment of communist regimes in a number of states.
It became clear that unification on a military-political basis was short-lived and of a momentary nature. The countries of the region needed closer economic integration.
The initial steps towards this were taken in 1961, when the ASA organization was formed. It included the state of the Philippines, the federation of Malaysia and Thailand. But still, initially this had a secondary meaning in relation to SEATO.
ASEAN Education
The leadership of the ASA countries and other countries in the region understood that economic cooperation should expand both territorially and qualitatively. To this end, an agreement called the ASEAN Declaration was signed in 1967 in Bangkok. Its signatories were, in addition to representatives of the ASA countries, authorized delegates representing the state of Singapore and Indonesia. It was these five countries that stood at the origins of ASEAN.
It is considered the moment from which the Association of Southeast Asian Nations began to function.
Organizational goals
The time has come to find out what goals the Association of Southeast Asian Nations pursued at the time of its formation. They were formulated in the above-mentioned ASEAN Declaration.
The main goals of the organization were to accelerate the dynamics of economic development of its members, integration between them and interaction in various fields of activity, establishing peace in the region, and increasing trade turnover within the Association.
Each of these goals was aimed at achieving a global idea - establishing prosperity in the region.
ASEAN members
To date, 10 countries include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The organization is composed of the following members:
- state of Thailand;
- Federation of Malaysia;
- country Philippines;
- country Indonesia;
- city-state of Singapore;
- Sultanate of Brunei;
- Vietnam (NRT);
- Laos (Lao PDR);
- Union of Myanmar;
- Cambodia.
The first five of these countries were the founders of ASEAN. The rest joined the organization throughout the history of its development.
ASEAN expansion
The Sultanate of Brunei, Vietnam, the country of Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia were included in ASEAN in subsequent years. The states of the region were increasingly drawn into mutual integration.
Brunei became the first country in the region to join the five founding members of ASEAN. This happened in 1984, that is, almost as soon as the country gained independence from Great Britain.
But the annexation of Brunei was a one-off affair. In the mid- to second half of the 90s, several countries simultaneously joined ASEAN, and this already indicated a certain trend and prestige of membership in the organization.
In 1995, Vietnam became a member of ASEAN, a country whose governance was based on Marxist ideology. It should be noted that before this, ASEAN included only countries that took the Western model as the basis for their development. Entry into the organization of the communist state testified to the deepening of integration processes in the region and the priority of economic cooperation over political differences.
In 1997, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations added two members at once. They were Laos and Myanmar. The first of them is also a country that has chosen the communist type of development.
At the same time, Cambodia was supposed to join the organization, but due to political turmoil it was postponed until 1999. However, in 1999 everything went smoothly, and the state became the tenth member of ASEAN.
Papua New Guinea and the Democratic Republic of East Timor have observer status. Additionally, in 2011, East Timor submitted a formal application for full membership in the organization. This application is currently under consideration.
Controls
Let's look at ASEAN's governance structure.
The highest body of the Association is the summit of the heads of state of its members. Since 2001 it has been held annually, and before that time meetings were organized once every three years. In addition, cooperation takes place in the format of meetings of representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs of the participating countries. They are also held annually. Recently, meetings of representatives of other ministries, in particular agriculture and economics, have begun to take place more and more often.
The current management of ASEAN affairs is entrusted to the organization's Secretariat, located in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. The head of this body is In addition, ASEAN has almost three dozen specialized committees and more than a hundred working groups.
ASEAN activities
Let's take a look at this organization.
Currently, the fundamental document that is taken as the basis for determining the overall strategic development of the organization and the relationships within it is the agreement signed in Bali by delegates of the participating countries.
Since 1977, an agreement on simplified trade between the states of the region began to operate. The integration of the countries of Southeast Asia in the economy was consolidated in 1992 by the creation of a regional zone called AFTA. Many experts consider this to be the main achievement of ASEAN. At this stage, the Association, as a subject of international law, is working on concluding free trade agreements with China, India, New Zealand, Japan, the Republic of Korea and a number of other countries.
In the early 1990s, the threat of economic and political dominance of the United States in the region became especially significant. Malaysia tried to prevent this. The country proposed creating a Council that, in addition to the ASEAN states, would include the PRC, the Republic of Korea and Japan. This organization was supposed to protect regional interests. But the project could not be implemented, as it met with stubborn resistance from the United States and Japan.
However, China, Korea and Japan still managed to be attracted to the activities of the Association. For this purpose, the ASEAN Plus Three organization was created in 1997.
Another important program is the task of ensuring security and political stability in the region. Since 1994, a forum on security issues began operating, called the ARF. However, members of the organization did not want to turn ASEAN into a military bloc. In 1995, they signed an agreement that recognized Southeast Asia as a nuclear weapons-free region.
Within the framework of the organization, environmental issues are also actively resolved.
Development prospects
Further economic integration of the states of the region, as well as deepening cooperation with other Asia-Pacific countries is a priority for ASEAN in the future. This program is intended to be implemented by the ASEAN Common Community, founded in 2015.
Another task of the organization for the near future is to overcome the gap in economic development between its members. Thailand, the country of Singapore and Malaysia in economic terms today are ahead of other states in the region. By 2020, it is planned to significantly reduce this gap.
The importance of organization
The importance of ASEAN for the development of Southeast Asian countries is very great. Since the inception of the Association, one of the most backward regions of Asia has joined the ranks of the most advanced not only on the continent, but also in the world. In addition, the number of armed conflicts in the region has decreased significantly. The development of economic ties between members of the Association contributes to their prosperity.
The organization plans to achieve even more significant peaks.
51.Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Goals and directions for creating ASEAN.
Currently, one of the most promising groupings in the developing world is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which unites 10 dynamically developing countries of Southeast Asia (SEA), occupying increasingly significant positions in the world economy - Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. On August 8, 1967, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, having previously resolved the most acute mutual political contradictions, signed a declaration in Bangkok on the creation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ASEAN Declaration stipulated that the association would be open to all Southeast Asian states. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was originally a military bloc that was aimed at coordinating the efforts of states in the region “against subversive communist activities.” However, it should be noted that this association quickly transformed from an anti-communist coalition of five developing countries into an influential player on a regional and global scale. Formally, ASEAN is open to the participation of all states in Southeast Asia that support its goals and principles, which are set out in the official documents of the association. At the moment, the main goals and objectives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are:
1. Accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint efforts in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of nations in Southeast Asia;
2. Promoting the establishment of peace and stability in the region through respect, justice and the rule of law in relations between the countries of the region and compliance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations;
3. Maintaining mutually beneficial cooperation on issues of common interests in the economic, social, cultural, scientific, technical and administrative fields;
4. Providing assistance to each other in the form of training and research centers, educational, professional, technical and administrative areas;
5. Effective cooperation in the fields of agriculture and industry to expand mutual trade, including studying the problems of international trade, improving transport and communication capabilities and improving the living standards of the peoples of the region;
6. Maintaining close and mutually beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organizations that have similar goals and objectives, and exploring opportunities for even closer cooperation with these organizations. In relations with each other, ASEAN member countries adopted the following fundamental principles contained in the organization’s Charter (mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, promoting peace in the region, supporting international law and human rights, social justice, developing friendly external relations with the UN, provision of mutual assistance in case of emergency).
The highest body of ASEAN is the summit of leaders (heads of state and government), which has been held annually since 2001. The ASEAN Coordinating Council, which consists of foreign ministers, acts as the governing and coordinating body. Meetings of relevant ministers and senior officials on specific areas of interaction are convened on a regular basis. The ASEAN Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, operates in Jakarta. The Secretary General is appointed by the leaders of ASEAN member countries for a period of 5 years. In 2013 – 2017 This post is held by former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Le Luong Minh. In order to improve interaction, a Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN was created on the basis of the Association Secretariat, to which each “ten” state appointed its own permanent representative with the rank of ambassador.
