Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), regional alliance of ten independent countries that promotes stability and economic growth in southeast Asia. The organization also encourages cultural exchanges between its members. ASEAN was founded in August 1967 by Malaysia, Thailand, and the republics of Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Brunei joined the alliance after attaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. Vietnam was admitted as the first communist member in 1995. Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma) joined ASEAN in 1997, and Cambodia became part of the alliance in 1999. The ASEAN secretariat, a central office that administers the organization’s activities, is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. Heads of governments of member countries meet annually; there are also annual meetings of prime ministers and regular meetings of economic ministers of member countries.

Established during the Vietnam War, ASEAN was originally intended as a bulwark against the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. Its principal objectives, outlined in the Bangkok Declaration (1967), were to accelerate economic growth and promote regional peace and stability. A joint forum with Japan was established in 1977, and a cooperation agreement with the European Community (now European Union) was signed in 1980. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, ASEAN played an important role in mediating the civil war in Cambodia. In January 1992 ASEAN members agreed to establish a free-trade area and to cut tariffs on nonagricultural goods over a 15-year period beginning in 1993. However, different regulations and tariffs among member countries have made that task difficult. Even so, ASEAN hoped to achieve economic integration by 2015.