association of southeast asian nations (asean)

towards an asean community by 2015

the association represents the collective will
of the nations of south-east asia to bind
themselves together in friendship and
cooperation and, through oint efforts and
sacrifices, secure for their peoples and
posterity the blessings of peace, freedom and
prosperity!"
the asean declaration
(# august 1$%&)
table of contents
introduction '
asean '
obectives and principles of the establishment
of asean (
the asean charter 5
asean political-security community (aspc) &
asean economic community (aec) 11
asean socio-cultural community (ascc)
1&
towards an asean
community 2015 '
introduction
the association of
southeast asian nations
(asean) was established on
# august, 1$%&! the
member states of the
association are brunei
darussalam, cambodia,
indonesia, lao pdr,
malaysia, myanmar,
philippines, singapore,
thailand and viet nam!
malaysia as a founding
member of asean is very
committed to achieve the
obectives of asean
establishment and asean
community 2015!
association of southeast
asian nations (asean)
efforts to establish
regional cooperation
continuously held
especially after the
conclusion of the malaysia
and indonesia)s
confrontation in august
1$%%!
during negotiation in
bang*o* in early august
1$%&, five foreign
ministers of asean
founding countries agreed
to establish association of
southeast asian nations
(asean)!
finally, the asean
declaration also *nown as
the bang*o* declaration
was signed by the foreign
ministers at that time were
tun abdul ra+a*
(malaysia), adam mali*
(indonesia), narciso r!
ramos (philippines), r!
raaratnam (singapore) and
thanat *homan (thailand)!
this declaration set the
goal and purpose of asean
establishment and the
membership openness to
all countries in southeast
asia! this declaration also
proclaimed asean as
representing the
aspirations of southeast
asia countries based on the
spirit of friendship and co-
operation to contribute
towards peace, progress
and prosperity of the
region!
( towards an asean
community 2015
obectives and principles
of the establishment of
asean
bang*o* declaration 1$%&
set a goal of asean
establishment that is to
accelerate the economic
growth, social and cultural
development based on the
spirit of cooperation,
partnership and e,uality to
strengthen the
development of a
progressive and peaceful
community among asean
member countries!
it is also aims to establish
regional peace and
stability by encouraging
member countries to
establish
intergovernmental
relations with respect to
ustice and laws as well as
to adhere to the principles
of the united nations
charter!
the treaty of amity and
cooperation in southeast
asia (tac) stated that,
cooperation and relation
between asean member
countries are on the
following principles-
respect the independence,
superiority, e,uality,
territorial integrity and
national identity of all
nations!
the right of every country
to lead, free from e.ternal
interference, subversion or
coercion!
resolution of differences
or arguments peacefully!
decline the use of military!
effective cooperation
between member
countries!
towards an asean
community 2015 5
the asean charter
% towards an asean
community 2015
the asean charter
united by a common
desire and collective will
to live in a region of
lasting peace, security and
stability, sustained
economic growth, shared
prosperity and social
progress, and to promote
our vital interests, ideal
and aspirations!"
the asean charter 200&
(20 november 200&)
the asean leaders adopted
the asean charter at their
summit in singapore in
november 200&! a high
level tas* force had
drafted the charter,
drawing upon the
recommendations of an
eminent persons group!
the charter embodies
fundamental principles,
goals, obectives and
structures of asean
cooperation, codifies all
asean norms, rules and
values, gives asean a
legal personality",
determines the functions,
and develops areas of
competence of *ey asean
bodies and their
relationship with one
another!
with the entry into force of
the asean charter on 15
december 200#, asean has
become a rules-based
intergovernmental
organisation with a legal
personality! some
institutional changes
include-
an improved structure to
ensure greater efficiency
and prompt
implementation of asean
agreements and decisions
convening of the asean
summit twice a year
creation of an asean
coordinating council
single chairmanship for
*ey high-level asean
bodies
creation of a committee of
permanent representatives
in a*arta
establishment of the asean
intergovernmental
commission on
human rights
towards an asean community 2015 &
asean political-security community (apsc)
# towards an asean
community 2015
asean political-security
community (apsc)
a rules-based community
of shared values and
norms
a cohesive, peaceful and
resilient region with
shared
responsibility for
comprehensive security
a dynamic and outward-
loo*ing region in an
integrated and
integrated and
interdependent world!
the aspc aims to ensure
that the peoples and
member states of asean
live in peace with one
another and with the world
at large in a ust,
democratic and
harmonious environment!
to achieve this, the apsc
promotes political
development in adherence
to the principles of
democracy, the rule of law
and good governance, and
respect for the promotion
and protection of human
rights and fundamental
freedoms as inscribed in
the asean charter! it also
subscribes to a
comprehensive approach
to security! at the same
time, the apsc see*s to
strengthen the mutually
beneficial relations
between asean and its
dialogue partners and
friends!
the apsc thus envisages the
following *ey
characteristics-
a rule-based community of
shared values and norms/
a cohesive, peaceful,
stable and resilient region
with shared responsibility
for comprehensive
security/ and
a dynamic and outward-
loo*ing region in an
increasingly integrated
and interdependent world!
the apsc has the following
components- political
development/ shaping and
sharing of norms/ conflict
prevention/ conflict
resolution/ post-conflict
peace building/ and
implementing
mechanisms!
notable progress has
continued to be made
across the various areas
and sectors under the
asean political-security
community (apsc) since
the blueprint towards
establishing the apsc was
adopted by the asean
leaders at the 1(th asean
summit in 200$! the apsc
blueprint is guided by the
asean charter and the
principles and purposes
contained therein! it
provides a roadmap and
timetable to establish the
apsc by
2015! it also leaves room
for fle.ibility to continue
programmes0activities
towards an asean
community 2015 $
beyond 2015 in order to
retain its significance and
have an enduring ,uality!
the apsc blueprint
envisages asean to be a
rules-based community of
shared values and norms/
a cohesive, peaceful,
stable and resilient region
with shared responsibility
for comprehensive
security/ as well as a
dynamic and outward-
loo*ing region in an
increasingly integrated
and interdependent world!
in the area of political
cooperation , the stature of
the 1$&% treaty of amity
and cooperation in
southeast asia (tac) has
been significantly
enhanced! international
interest in the tac
continues to grow!
asean is also ma*ing
progress in conflict
resolution and
management!
the launch of the asean
institute for peace and
reconciliation (aipr)
during the 21
st
asean
summit is a testimony to
this effort! aipr shall be the
asean research institution
on conflict resolution and
conflict management to
enhance peace, security,
and stability in the region!
in an effort to provide a
framewor* for regional
cooperation to tac*le the
humanitarian aspects of
landmines and e.plosive
remnants of war (erw), the
21
st
asean summit adopted
the statement on the
establishment of an asean
regional mine action
centre (armac)!
in further strengthening
the promotion and
protection of human right
in the region, asean
adopted the asean human
rights declaration (ahrd)
and signed the phnom
penh statement on the
adoption of the ahrd at the
21
st
asean summit in
november 2012! this is
another milestone for
asean in the
implementation of
relevant human rights
provisions as enshrined in
the asean charter and the
apsc blueprint! moving
forward, the focus of the
asean intergovernmental
commission on human
rights (aichr) will be on
the implementation and
dissemination of ahrd and
the phnom penh statement,
including the translation of
ahrd into the national
languages of asean
member states,
on security cooperation,
the asean regional forum,
which is entering into its
20
th
year, has been
wor*ing towards
enhancing coordination
with other asean sectoral
bodies on cross-cutting
issues in view of
promoting synergy and
complementary among
e.isting asean
mechanisms!
cooperation under the
framewor* of the asean
defence ministers)
10 towards an asean
community 2015
meeting (admm) has been
progressing steadily! among
others, wor* is being
carried out towards the
establishment of the asean
peace*eeping centres
networ* and the asean
defence industry
collaboration! in the
admm-plus front, three
maor e.ercises in the areas
of humanitarian
assistance and disaster
response (hadr) and
military medicine, counter
terrorism and maritime
security will be conducted
in 201'!
on the e.ternal relations
front, asean is vigorously
intensifying dialogue and
cooperation with its
dialogue partners,
international and regional
organi+ations as well as
with other e.ternal parties!
e.ternal parties
increasingly regard asean
as one of the most
successful regional
organisations, which serves
as the central locomotive
for peace, stability and
prosperity in the region and
beyond! asean is actively
engaging its dialogue
partners to further enhance
dialogue and cooperation
with them, in addition,
asean is solidifying its
engagement with regional
and international
organi+ations as well as
international institutions
and un specialised
agencies!
towards an asean community 2015 11
asean economic community (aec)
12 towards an asean
community 2015
asean economic community
(aec)
single mar*et and
production base
competitive economic
region
e,uitable economic
development
integration into the global
economy
the asean economic
community (aec) is the
realisation of the end goal
of regional economic
integration by 2015 of the
ten (10) economies of the
asean member states,
namely brunei darussalam,
cambodia, lao pdr,
indonesia, malaysia,
myanmar, the philippines,
singapore, thailand and viet
nam! the aec will bring
benefits to the peoples of
asean by creating a more
conducive environment
through transparency,
predictability and
consistency for businesses
to flourish! this will in turn
benefit consumers who will
have access to a cheaper
and wider range of goods
and services and enoy
more e.tensive consumer
protection! the newer asean
member states of cambodia,
lao pdr, myanmar and viet
nam stand to also gain
through the many
opportunities for
production networ*s
created by an aec and the
productivity enhancing
effects of aec)s emphasis on
best practices!
asean aims to achieve the
aec by facilitating free flow
of goods, services,
investments and s*illed
labour, and free flow of
capital/ increasing physical,
institutional and people-to-
people connectivity to
bring down the cost of
doing business/ narrowing
the development gap both
within and between asean
member states by
instituting targeted
programmes/ and finding
synergy through engaging
in bilateral ftas and
consolidating the plus one
ftas into a regional
comprehensive economic
partnership (rcep)! further,
by trac*ing our progress
and performance against set
targets through the aec
scorecard mechanism!
despite the still uncertain
global environment, asean
maintained its economic
resilience with the
economic growth of 5!%
percent in 2012 from (!&
percent in 2011,
underpinned by strong
domestic demand! the need
to stay resilient against
global uncertainties has
also pushed the region to
pursue its integration
agenda further! as a result,
the aec continued to ma*e
good progress! by end-
march 201', around &#
percent of measures due
under the aec blueprint
have been implemented,
with significant gains
across pillars including the
following-
towards an asean
community 2015 1'
per capita income in the
region had risen from
usd21,2%& to usd1',&5$ in
2012
total trade of asean grew by
1%!#2, from usd12!05
trillion in 2010 to usd12!(
trillion in 2011/ intra-asean
trade reached usd15$#
billion from usd1520
billion, an increase of
15!12, over the same
period!
asean continued to attract
foreign investments,
generating a record
usd111( billion fdi inflow
in 2011, a 2'2 increase
from usd1$2 billion in
2010/
the asean comprehensive
investment agreement
(acia) is now enforced/
the landmar* asean
agreement on movement of
natural persons (mnp) has
been signed/
the pilot implementation of
the asean single window,
which is e.pected to
contribute to improved
trade facilitation in the
region, is well underway/
while in transport
facilitation, renewed
progress is made in the
ratification of agreements/
a wor* program was also
developed to address non-
tariff barrier
(ntbs), including
enhancement of non-tariff
measures (ntms) database
and engagement of private
sector to obtain feedbac*
on
ntb0ntm) issues!
over the last year, the
region)s financial mar*ets
have been deepened, with
greater focus on capital
mar*et development and
ban*ing and insurance
mar*et integration! this has
led to a strong financial
intermediation in the region
to support trade integration!
efforts to implement the
asean framewor* for
e,uitable economic
development which is
intended to narrow the
development gaps in the
region have gained
momentum, with new
initiatives being introduced
li*e financial inclusion!
meanwhile, negotiations
for the regional
comprehensive economic
partnership, which will
further cement asean)s
centrality when completed
by 2015, have also started!
despite this progress,
realising the aec is still a
challenge, particularly with
the uncertain global
environment!
nonetheless, the aec is still
the best strategic response
by the region in preserving
its competitive strength!
over the years, wor* has
intensified
1( towards an asean
community 2015
at varying levels to
implement the elements of
the aec! while there have
been important and positive
achievements, more efforts
are still needed achieve the
integration targets! as the
aec draws near, and
following the priorities set
by the leaders in the phnom
penh agenda during the 20
th
summit in april 2012, it has
become clear that countries
need to redouble their
efforts and ta*e active steps
to realise the aec by 2015!
cumulative fdi
net inflow to asean,
host country
200% - 2011
nominal in
share to total
million usd
in 2
brunei darussalam
',22$!'
0!&
cambodia
(,'&$!0
1!0
indonesia
5$,0($!5
1'!1
lao pdr
1,%$0!%
0!(
malaysia
((,(21!1
$!$
myanmar
',5'1!&
0!#
philippines
11,$0(!0
2!%
singapore
22$,'$1!%
50!$
thailand
51,0&2!(
11!'
viet nam
(1,&(#!0
$!'
asean
(50,(1&!'
100!0
source -
aseanstats database as of
september 2012 for fdi!
towards an asean
community 2015 15
asean trade 2011
country
value in
million usd
intra asean
5$#,2(2!2(
an+
%&,&11!1(
canada
10,&&1!15
china
2#0,(05!55
eu-2&
2'(,&&%!15
india
%#,(2#!&#
apan
2&','(&!0&
*orea, republic of
12(,(&0!$0
pa*istan
%,&%&!(5
russia
1',$%&!(5
usa
1$#,&#5!$5
others
510,$10!05
trade
2,'##,5$2!2#
source -
aseanstats database as of
november 2012 for trade!