About ASEAN PDF

**About ASEAN** The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam...

**About ASEAN** The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, followed by Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN. **The Founding of ASEAN** A group of men standing in front of flags Description automatically generated On 8 August 1967, five leaders -- the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- sat down together in the main hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok, Thailand and signed a document. By virtue of that document, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was born. The five Foreign Ministers who signed it -- Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso R. Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand -- would subsequently be hailed as the Founding Fathers of probably the most successful inter-governmental organization in the developing world today. And the document that they signed would be known as the ASEAN Declaration.   It was a short, simply-worded document containing just five articles. It declared the establishment of an Association for Regional Cooperation among the Countries of Southeast Asia to be known as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and spelled out the aims and purposes of that Association. These aims and purposes were about cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, technical, educational and other fields, and in the promotion of regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. It stipulated that the Association would be open for participation by all States in the Southeast Asian region subscribing to its aims, principles and purposes. It proclaimed ASEAN as representing "the collective will of the nations of Southeast Asia to bind themselves together in friendship and cooperation and, through joint efforts and sacrifices, secure for their peoples and for posterity the blessings of peace, freedom and prosperity."   It was while Thailand was brokering reconciliation among Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia over certain disputes that it dawned on the four countries that the moment for regional cooperation had come or the future of the region would remain uncertain. Recalls one of the two surviving protagonists of that historic process, Thanat Khoman of Thailand: "At the banquet marking the reconciliation between the three disputants, I broached the idea of forming another organization for regional cooperation with Adam Malik. Malik agreed without hesitation but asked for time to talk with his government and also to normalize relations with Malaysia now that the confrontation was over. Meanwhile, the Thai Foreign Office prepared a draft charter of the new institution. Within a few months, everything was ready. I therefore invited the two former members of the Association for Southeast Asia (ASA), Malaysia and the Philippines, and Indonesia, a key member, to a meeting in Bangkok. In addition, Singapore sent S. Rajaratnam, then Foreign Minister, to see me about joining the new set-up. Although the new organization was planned to comprise only the ASA members plus Indonesia, Singapore's request was favorably considered."   And so in early August 1967, the five Foreign Ministers spent four days in the relative isolation of a beach resort in Bang Saen, a coastal town less than a hundred kilometers southeast of Bangkok. There they negotiated over that document in a decidedly informal manner which they would later delight in describing as "sports-shirt diplomacy." Yet it was by no means an easy process: each man brought into the deliberations a historical and political perspective that had no resemblance to that of any of the others. But with goodwill and good humor, as often as they huddled at the negotiating table, they finessed their way through their differences as they lined up their shots on the golf course and traded wisecracks on one another's game, a style of deliberation which would eventually become the ASEAN ministerial tradition.   Now, with the rigors of negotiations and the informalities of Bang Saen behind them, with their signatures neatly attached to the ASEAN Declaration, also known as the Bangkok Declaration, it was time for some formalities. The first to speak was the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Narciso Ramos, a one-time journalist and long-time legislator who had given up a chance to be Speaker of the Philippine Congress to serve as one of his country's first diplomats. He was then 66 years old and his only son, the future President Fidel V. Ramos, was serving with the Philippine Civic Action Group in embattled Vietnam. He recalled the tediousness of the negotiations that preceded the signing of the Declaration that "truly taxed the goodwill, the imagination, the patience and understanding of the five participating Ministers." That ASEAN was established at all in spite of these difficulties, he said, meant that its foundations had been solidly laid. And he impressed it on the audience of diplomats, officials and media people who had witnessed the signing ceremony that a great sense of urgency had prompted the Ministers to go through all that trouble. He spoke darkly of the forces that were arrayed against the survival of the countries of Southeast Asia in those uncertain and critical times.   "The fragmented economies of Southeast Asia," he said, "(with) each country pursuing its own limited objectives and dissipating its meager resources in the overlapping or even conflicting endeavors of sister states carry the seeds of weakness in their incapacity for growth and their self-perpetuating dependence on the advanced, industrial nations. ASEAN, therefore, could marshal the still untapped potentials of this rich region through more substantial united action." **Significance of the ASEAN Charter** With the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter on 15 December 2008, ASEAN will henceforth operate under a new legal framework and establish a number of new organs to boost its community-building process.   The ASEAN Charter has been fully ratified (or accepted in Member States without Parliament or when such ratification cane be done through a Cabinet decision) in all the 10 ASEAN Member States. Singapore was the first to deposit its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, on 7 January 2008; Thailand was the last, on 15 November 2008.   In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement among the 10 ASEAN Member States. It will also be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations, pursuant to Article 102, Paragraph 1 of the Charter of the United Nations.   The importance of the ASEAN Charter can be seen in the following contexts: - New political commitment at the top level - New and enhanced commitments - New legal framework, legal personality - New ASEAN bodies - Two new openly-recruited DSGs - More ASEAN meetings - More roles of ASEAN Foreign Ministers - New and enhanced role of the SecretaryGeneral of ASEAN - Other new initiatives and changes - What remains unchanged? New political commitment at the top level - To unite under One Vision, One Identity and One Caring and Sharing Community - To build the ASEAN Community comprising: 1. ASEAN Political-SecurityCommunity  2. ASEAN Economic Community 3. ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community **New and enhanced commitments**   [Political]   - Mutual interests and interdependence among ASEAN peoples; common - objectives and shared destiny - "Member States shall take all necessary measures, including the enactment of appropriate domestic legislation, to effectively implement the provisions of this - Charter and to comply with all obligations of membership;" (Article 5.2) - Principles of democracy, the rule of law, and good governance - Respect for and protection and promotion of human rights - Peace-oriented values - Nuclear weapon-free Southeast Asia, and free of all other weapons of mass destruction - "shared commitment and collective responsibility in enhancing regional peace, security and prosperity" (Article 2.2 (b)) - "enhanced consultations on matters seriously affecting the common interest of ASEAN;" (Article 2.2 (g)) [Economic] [ ] - Rules-based economic integration; market economy - Adherence to multilateral trade rules and ASEAN's rules-based regimes - Progress reduction towards elimination of all barriers to regional economic integration [People-oriented] [ ] - "We, THE PEOPLES of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),..." (Preamble) - At least 10 of the 15 "purposes" of ASEAN are directly related to the peoples of ASEAN (See Article 1.4, and 1.6 -- 14) - Peoples at the centre of the ASEAN community-building process - "To promote a people-oriented ASEAN in which all sectors of society are encouraged to participate in, and benefit from, the process of ASEAN integration and community building;" (Article 1.13 **Guidelines on the Use of The ASEAN Flag**  - The ASEAN Flag is a symbol of Member States' unity and support for the principles and endeavours of ASEAN and is a means to promote greater ASEAN awareness and solidarity. - The ASEAN Flag represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN. The colours of the Flag -- blue, red, white and yellow -- represent the main colours of the flags of all the ASEAN Member States. - The blue represents peace and stability. Red depicts courage and dynamism, white shows purity and yellow symbolises prosperity. - The stalks of padi in the centre of the Emblem represent the dream of ASEAN's Founding Fathers for an ASEAN comprising all the countries in Southeast Asia, bound together in friendship and solidarity. - The circle represents the unity of ASEAN. - The ASEAN Flag is the reserved copyright of ASEAN. - The specifications of the ASEAN Flag are annexed. Dignity of the ASEAN Flag ***The ASEAN Flag shall be treated with respect and shall not be subjected to any indignity.*** **Related Articles** - [Use of the ASEAN Flag](https://asean.org/asean-flag/use-of-the-asean-flag/) [\ ](https://asean.org/asean-flag/annex/)**uidelines on the Use of the Name "ASEAN"** **A. Scope and Application**   - The Name "ASEAN" refers to the "Association of Southeast Asian Nations". - These Guidelines set out the procedure for the request and authorization for the use of the name "ASEAN". - These Guidelines shall apply to entities requesting to use the name "ASEAN" and shall not apply to the following: - ASEAN Organs under Chapter IV of the ASEAN Charter including their mechanisms, activities and programmes; - ASEAN mechanism officially established by ASEAN Member States; - Entities belonging to or activities organized by the Governments of ASEAN Member States; and - Entities associated with ASEAN in accordance with Article 16 of the ASEAN Charter. **B. Protection**   - The name "ASEAN" is protected under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, adopted in 1883 and revised in Stockholm in 1967. **C. Use of the Name "ASEAN"**   - The use of the name "ASEAN" aims to promote ASEAN and its purposes and principles as stipulated in the ASEAN Charter. It shall not be used for political propaganda or for activities that harm the dignity and integrity of ASEAN, and adversely affects ASEAN or ASEAN Member States. - The request for the use of the name "ASEAN" shall satisfy the following conditions: - - The entity shall be indigenous to ASEAN; - The use of the name "ASEAN" shall be in support of ASEAN purposes and principles as well as for mutual benefit in the context of attaining ASEAN Community 2015 and beyond and shall not have any negative effect on such purposes and principles; - The name "ASEAN" shall not be brought into disrepute by its use. **D. Enquiries and Requests for the Use of the Name "ASEAN"**   - Any enquiry and/or request for the use of the name "ASEAN" shall be submitted in writing to the ASEAN Secretariat at the following address: Legal Services and Agreements Division The ASEAN Secretariat\ 70A, Jl. Sisingamangaraja\ Jakarta 12110\ Indonesia E-mail: [LSADirectorate\@asean.org](mailto:[email protected])   - An entity requesting for the use of the name "ASEAN" will be required to complete the prescribed application form and submit it together with supporting documents as specified in the form. Download Request Form for the Use of the Name "ASEAN" [Here](http://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Request-Form-for-the-Use-of-the-Name-ASEAN-Revised-and-Cleared-LSAD-as-of-21-June-2017-00000002.pdf).   **E. Authorization and Revocation Process**   - Upon receiving an enquiry and/or request by an entity seeking to use the name "ASEAN", the ASEAN Secretariat will consider such enquiry and/or request within a reasonable time. Where necessary, the ASEAN Secretariat may, seek further information and clarification from the requesting entity to ensure that the enquiry and/or request will be processed appropriately. - In considering the request, the ASEAN Secretariat may, if necessary, consult with the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) and/or concerned ASEAN Sectoral Bodies. - Where the abovementioned conditions and requirements for the request are satisfied, the ASEAN Secretariat may grant the authorization to use the name "ASEAN". Such authorization shall be on a non-exclusive basis and may be subject to any terms and conditions as may be determined by the ASEAN Secretariat on a case-by-case basis. - The authorization for the use of the name "ASEAN" cannot be extended or otherwise transferred to any third party. - The authorization to use the name "ASEAN" does not establish any form of relations or confer any status between ASEAN and the entity to which the authorization has been granted. Such authorization shall not entitle the entity to act on behalf of ASEAN, or to undertake any act to bind ASEAN or create a liability against ASEAN in any manner whatsoever. - Any ASEAN Member State or the ASEAN Secretariat may suggest the revocation of the use of the name "ASEAN". The decision on the revocation shall be made by the ASEAN Secretariat in consultation with the CPR, taking into consideration the provisions set forth in these Guidelines. **F. Amendments to the Guidelines**   - Any ASEAN Member State may propose amendments to these Guidelines, which shall be submitted to the CPR for its consideration and agreed upon by consensus. The agreed amendments shall be submitted to the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) for notation, and thereafter come into immediate effect.  **G. Final Clause**   - The CPR considered and agreed to these Guidelines at the 18/2013 CPR Meeting on 19 September 2013. Note: These Guidelines are amended in accordance with paragraph 10 of the Guidelines on the Use of the Name "ASEAN" which were adopted at the 6^th^ Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC), Ha Noi, 8 April 2010. These Guidelines were submitted to the ACC for notation on 26 September 2013. E-mail:[ LSADirectorate\@asean.org](mailto:[email protected]) **Composition of the ASEAN Coordinating Council** As of August 2022 **THE HON. DATO ERYWAN PEHIN YUSOF** Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Jalan Subok Bandar Seri Begawan BD 2710 **Brunei Darussalam** ** ** **H.E. PRAK SOKHONN** Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation No.3, Samdech Hun Sen Street, Sangkat Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamcarmon, Phnom Penh **Cambodia** ** ** **H.E. RETNO L.P. MARSUDI** Minister for Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jalan Taman Pejambon No.6 Jakarta Pusat 10110 **Republic of Indonesia** ** ** **H.E. SALEUMXAY KOMMASITH** Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs 23 Singha Road, Vientiane, 01004 **Lao People's Democratic Republic** ** ** **H.E. DATO' SRI SAIFUDDIN ABDULLAH** Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wisma Putra No 1, Jalan Wisma Putra Precint 2, 62602 Putrajaya **Malaysia** **H.E. DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI** State Counsellor and Union Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nay Pyi Taw, **Republic of the Union of Myanmar** ** ** **H.E. ENRIQUE A. MANALO** Secretary of Foreign Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City **Republic of the Philippines** ** ** **H.E. DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN** Minister for Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tanglin, Singapore 248163 **Republic of Singapore** ** ** **H.E. DON PRAMUDWINAI** Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs 443 Sri Ayudha Rd. Rajthevi District Bangkok 10400 **Kingdom of Thailand** ** ** **H.E. BUI THANH SON** Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs No.1 Ton That Dam, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, **Socialist Republic of Viet Nam** A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated  - The ASEAN Emblem shall be the official emblem of ASEAN. - The ASEAN Emblem represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN. The colours of the Emblem --- blue, red, white and yellow --- represent the main colours of the state crests of all the ASEAN Member States. - The blue represents peace and stability. Red depicts courage and dynamism, white shows purity and yellow symbolises prosperity. - The stalks of padi in the centre of the Emblem represent the dream of ASEAN's Founding Fathers for an ASEAN comprising all the countries in Southeast Asia, bound together in friendship and solidarity - The circle represents the unity of ASEAN. [Read More](https://asean.org/about-asean/asean-emblem/) **ASEAN Anthem** Guidelines on the Use of the ASEAN Anthem - The ASEAN Anthem is an expression of ASEAN unity. It also strengthens the sense of ASEAN identity and belonging among the peoples of the region. - The ASEAN Anthem is titled "THE ASEAN WAY", with musical composition and lyrics as attached. - The ASEAN Anthem is under the copyright of ASEAN with the ASEAN Secretariat as the main body to oversee its proper use.