The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization that aims to promote economic and political cooperation among its member states in Southeast Asia. It is a political and economic union of 10 states in Southeast Asia, representing a population of over 600 million and a land area of 4.5 million km².
Founding and Establishment: ASEAN was founded on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (also known as the Bangkok Declaration). The founding members were Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Member States: ASEAN consists of ten member states. The member states are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Principles and Objectives: The ASEAN principles are outlined in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), which emphasizes mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, and territorial integrity of nations.
The objectives of ASEAN, as stated in the ASEAN Declaration, are as follows:
Accelerate economic growth: ASEAN aims to promote economic growth and development among its member states, fostering a stable and prosperous economic region.
Promote social progress: ASEAN seeks to encourage social progress and cultural development within the region, ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are shared by all.
Promote regional peace: The organization aims to promote peace and security in Southeast Asia, working towards resolving conflicts and maintaining stability in the region.
In addition to these objectives, ASEAN has set a vision for the future, as outlined in the ASEAN Vision 2020. This vision envisions ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, living in peace, stability, and prosperity, turning the diversity that characterizes the region into opportunities for business and development.
Decision-Making and Consensus: ASEAN operates on the principle of consensus, where decisions are made after all member states have reached an agreement. The non-interference principle is a fundamental aspect, meaning that member states do not interfere in each other's internal affairs.
Three Pillars of ASEAN: ASEAN has three main pillars:
Political-Security Community: Aims to promote regional peace and stability, prevent conflicts, and enhance political cooperation.
Economic Community: Focuses on economic integration, trade liberalization, and the development of a single market and production base.
Socio-Cultural Community: Aims to promote social development, cultural understanding, and cooperation in various non-economic fields.
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): The ARF is an important forum within ASEAN that addresses political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, promoting dialogue and conflict prevention.
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA): AFTA is a trade bloc agreement within ASEAN aimed at promoting economic integration by reducing tariffs and trade barriers among member states.
Dialogue Partnerships: ASEAN has established dialogue partnerships with various countries and organizations worldwide, including China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and the European Union.
India's relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of its foreign policy, and the partnership has evolved over the years, with India becoming a Strategic Partner of ASEAN in 2012.
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