Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

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ASEAN is a regional grouping of 11 states in Southeast Asia that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members.

Origin

Established: 8 August 1967 through the Bangkok Declaration.
Founding Members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand.
Later Members: Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos & Myanmar (1997), Cambodia (1999),Timor-Leste(2025).
Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia.

Member Countries

11 Members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste(2025).
Dialogue Partners: Australia, Canada, China, European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States

On October 26, 2025, East Timor — also known as Timor-Leste — officially became the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
This historic inclusion took place during the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Aims

The aims and purposes of ASEAN are:

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;
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;
promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;
provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;
collaborate more effectively to encourage further growth in the agriculture and industry, and trade sectors. This includes improving transportation and communications facilities and conducting studies on international commodity trade with the overarching goal of raising the living standards of ASEAN peoples;
promote Southeast Asian studies; and
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.

Governance

ASEAN Summit

The ASEAN Summit is the highest policy-making body in ASEAN comprising the Head of States or Government of ASEAN Member States.
The ASEAN Summit is held twice annually at a time to be determined by the Chair of the ASEAN Summit in consultation with other ASEAN Member States.
The summit is hosted by the ASEAN Member State holding the ASEAN Chairmanship.
The First ASEAN Summit was held in Bali, Indonesia on 23-24 February 1976.

ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC)

Established in 2008, the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) comprises the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and meets at least twice a year to prepare for the ASEAN Summit.
The ACC coordinates the implementation of the mandate of ASEAN Leaders and all cross-pillar initiatives of ASEAN.
It prepares the meetings of the ASEAN Summit.

ASEAN Secretariat

The ASEAN Secretariat was set up in February 1976 by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN.
It is located in Jakarta, Indonesia
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 mission is to initiate, facilitate and coordinate ASEAN stakeholder collaboration in realising the purposes and principles of ASEAN as reflected in the ASEAN Charter.

Secretary-General

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, with due consideration to integrity, capability and professional experience, and gender equality.
The Secretary-General shall also be the Chief Administrative Officer of ASEAN

ASEAN Charter (2008)

Entered into force in December 2008.
the ASEAN Charter is a legally binding agreement among the 10 ASEAN Member States.
It gave the ASEAN a new legal framework

India and ASEAN

1992: India became a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.
1995: Upgraded to a Full Dialogue Partnership.
2002: First ASEAN–India Summit held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; since then, it has been held annually.
2012: On the 20th anniversary of Dialogue Relations, partnership elevated to Strategic Partnership.
2022: 30th anniversary marked by elevating ties to an ASEAN–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

ASEAN-India FTA

At the 2nd ASEAN-India Summit in 2003, the Leaders signed the ASEAN-India Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation.
- The Framework Agreement laid a sound basis for the establishment of an ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (FTA), which includes FTA in goods, services and investment.
The ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement was signed and entered into force on 1 January 2010.
- Under the Agreement, ASEAN Member States and India have agreed to open their respective markets by progressively reducing and eliminating duties on 76.4% coverage of goods.
The ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement was signed in November 2014.
- It contains provisions on transparency, domestic regulations, recognition, market access, national treatment and dispute settlement.
The ASEAN-India Investment Agreement was also signed in November 2014.
- The Investment Agreement stipulates protection of investment to ensure fair and equitable treatment for investors, non-discriminatory treatment in expropriation or nationalisation as well as fair compensation

FAQs

Q1. What is ASEAN?

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is a regional grouping of 10 Southeast Asian countries formed to promote economic, political, and security cooperation in the region.

Q2. When was ASEAN established?

ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.

Q3. Who are the founding members of ASEAN?

The five founding members of ASEAN are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

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