Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), organization established by the Bangkok Declaration (1967), linking the nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Subsequently, Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos (1997), Myanmar (1999), and Cambodia (1999) were admitted; a formal charter for ASEAN was finalized in 2007. The organization's secretariat is in Jakarta. ASEAN seeks to promote socioeconomic progress and regional stability through cooperation in banking, trade, technology, agriculture, industry, and tourism. Members agreed in 1992 to create the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), a regional common market, which became effective in 1993. Tariffs among the six oldest ASEAN nations are to be phased out by 2007; the rest of ASEAN will complete the process in 2012. ASEAN also has reached free-trade agreements with China (2004) and Japan (2008). Members are also pledged to work together to promote foreign investment in the region. In 2005, ASEAN established the East Asia Summit as a broader regional forum for its members and China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional alliance formed in 1967 to promote economic cooperation. Its members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, and Burma. Based in Jakarta, Indonesia, it took over the nonmilitary aspects of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1975.

http://www.aseansec.org

Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) A regional organization formed by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand through the Bangkok Declaration of 1967. Brunei joined the organization in 1984, Vietnam joined in 1995, and Myanmar (Burma) and Laos joined in 1997. ASEAN aims to accelerate and to promote regional stability. In 1992 it agreed to create the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) as the first step towards the creation of an ASEAN common market. Since ASEAN members have historically given more priority to external than intra-ASEAN trade, one of its principal roles has been to negotiate with other countries and with organizations such as the EUROPEAN UNION. From its inception ASEAN opposed communist regimes in other Asian countries such as North Vietnam and, subsequently, Laos and Cambodia.