ASEAN full form, aims and purpose, structure, facts

What is ASEAN?

Introduction

The association of southeast nation or ASEAN was established on 8 august 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN declaration by the founding member of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Motto:   ‘’One Vision, One Identity, One Community’’

Secretariat:   Jakarta

Working language:  English

Secretary-general:  Jim Jock Hoi

Website:  ASEAN.org

 Some Facts:  ASEAN

• Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand constituted this association on 8th August 1967.

• The object of ASEAN is to promote economic co-operation in South East Asia & also to ensure economic stability in the region.

• Headquarter is at Jakarta.

• 10 member countries.

• ASEAN summit motto- ‘’one vision, one identity, one community’’.

• 13th summit of ASEAN 2007 theme One ASEAN at the heart of dynamic Asia.

• 23rd July 1996 ASEAN gave advisory status to India.

• Sign blueprint for the proposed ASEAN economic community that will take effect in 2015.

• ASEAN recent summit- 25th summit at Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar Nov 2014, 24th summit at Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar may 2014, 23^rd summit at Brunei Oct 2013, 22nd summit at Brunei April 2013, 21st summit Phnom Penh Cambodia Nov 2012, 20th summit at Phnom Penh Cambodia April 2012.

• 1st summit at Bali, Indonesia Feb 1976.

 The Asian flag:

In the Asian logo, the ten stalks of paddy(rice) represent the ten Southeast Asian countries bound together in friendship & solidarity, the circle symbolizes the unity of ASEAN

 Aim and Purpose of ASEAN:

1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavors.

2. To promote regional peace and stability

3. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields.

4. To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research, facilities in the educational professional, technical and administrative aspheres.

5. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilization of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problem of international community trade. The improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples.

6. to promote Southeast Asian studies

7. to maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organizations

THREE PILLARS OF ASEAN

(A). ASEAN security community

·       Based on the conviction that outstanding territorial disputes should not escalate into armed confrontation.

·       The Asian regional forum, which was established in 1994, is the organization that’s carried out the coordination of security & foreign policy.

(B). Asian economic community:

• To create common market & production based within ASEAN states & to aid social & economic development in the region.
• ASEAN has focused on creating a free trade area for investment, labor, and services.

 (C). ASEAN social-cultural community:

• To combat the pitfalls of capitalism and free trade, namely, the disparity in wealth & jobless
• This community focused on disadvantaged groups such as rural workers, women & children.

Structure of mechanisms:

• The highest decision making organ of ASEAN in the meeting of the ASEAN trade of state and government. The ASEAN summit is convened every year.
• The ministerial meeting (foreign ministers) is held on an annual basis.
• Supporting these ministerial bodies are 29 committees of senior officials and 122 technical working group.