Association of Southeast

Asian Nations
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Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Flag Emblem
Motto:
"One Vision, One Identity, One
Community"[1]

Anthem: The ASEAN Way

Secretariat Jakarta, Indonesiaa
Working English[show]
language

10 states[show]
Membership
2 observers[show]

Leaders
- Current ASEAN Malaysia
Chair
- Secretary L Lng Minh[2]
General

Establishment
- Bangkok 8 August 1967
Declaration
- Charter 16 December 2008

Area
- Total 4,435,618[3] km2
1,712,602 sq mi
Population
- 2013 estimate 625 million[3]

- Density 141/km2
365/sq mi

GDP (PPP) estimate

- Total US$3.6 trillion[4]

- Per capita US$5,869[4]

GDP (nominal) 2015 estimate

- Total US$2.6 trillion[4]

- Per capita US$4,160[4]

 HDI (2013) 0.669b
medium

Currency 10 currencies[show]

Time zone ASEAN(UTC+9 to +6:3

0)

Calling code 10 codes[show]

Internet TLD 10+1 TLDs[show]

Website
www.asean.org
a.
Address: Jalan Sisingamangaraja
No.70A, South Jakarta.[5]
b.
Calculated using UNDP data from member
states.
The Association of Southeast Asian
Nations[6] (ASEAN /si.n/ AH-see-
ahn,[7] /zi.n/ AH-zee-ahn)[8][9] is a
political and economic organisation of
ten Southeast Asian countries. It was
formed on 8 August 1967
by Indonesia, Malaysia,
the Philippines,Singapore,
and Thailand.[10] Since then, membership
has expanded to
include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar
(Burma), andVietnam. Its aims include
accelerating economic growth, social
progress, and sociocultural
evolution among its members, protection of
regional peace and stability, and
opportunities for member countries to
resolve differences peacefully.[11][12]
ASEAN covers a land area of 4.4 million
square kilometres, 3% of the total land area
of the Earth. ASEAN territorial waters cover
an area about three times larger than its
land counterpart. The member countries
have a combined population of
approximately 625 million people, 8.8% of
the world's population. In 2015, the
organisation's combined nominal GDP had
 grown to more than US$2.6 trillion. If
ASEAN were a single entity, it would rank
as the seventh largest economy in the
world, behind the US, China, Japan,
Germany, France and the United
Kingdom.[4]
Contents
[hide]
1 Purpose
2 History
o 2.1 Foundation

o 2.2 Expansion and further integration

o 2.3 Charter

o 2.4 The Asean way

o 2.5 Asean Plus Three

3 Economy
o 3.1 Overview

o 3.2 Internal market

o 3.3 Free trade

o 3.4 ASEAN six majors

 o 3.5 ASEAN Capital Markets Forum
(ACMF)
o 3.6 Development gap

o 3.7 Monetary union

o 3.8 Free-trade agreements

o 3.9 From CMI to AMRO

4 Single aviation market

5 Tourism
6 Foreign affairs and summits
o 6.1 ASEAN identity

o 6.2 ASEAN summits

o 6.3 East Asia Summit

o 6.4 Commemorative summit

o 6.5 Regional Forum

o 6.6 Other meetings

7 Mass media
o 7.1 ASEAN Ministers Responsible for

Information (AMRI)
o 7.2 ASEAN Media Cooperation

8 ASEAN Integration 2015

o 8.1 ASEAN Economic Community

Blueprint
 o 8.2 ASEAN Political-Security Community
Blueprint
o 8.3 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

Blueprint
o 8.4 The AEC Scorecard

o 8.5 Narrowing the Development Gap

9 ASEAN Communication Master Plan

10 ASEAN security blueprint
11 Environment
12 Education
o 12.1 Educational integration

o 12.2 Literacy rates

13 Culture and sport

o 13.1 Heritage parks

o 13.2 Songs and music

o 13.3 ASEAN competitions

o 13.4 2030 FIFA world cup bid

14 Criticisms of ASEAN
15 See also
16 Literature
17 References
18 Further reading
 19 External links
Purpose[edit]
As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the
aims and purposes of ASEAN are:[13]
To accelerate economic growth, social
progress, and cultural development in the
region.
To promote regional peace and stability.
To promote collaboration and mutual
assistance on matters of common
interest.
To provide assistance to each other in the
form of training and research facilities.
To collaborate for the better utilisation of
agriculture and industry to raise the living
standards of the people.
To promote Southeast Asian studies.
To maintain close, beneficial co-operation
with existing international organisations
with similar aims and purposes[14]
History[edit]
See also: Member states of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations
Wikisource has
original text
related to this
article:
Bangkok
Declaration

The member states of ASEAN

Myanmar
Laos
Vietnam
Thailand
 Cam-
bodia
Philippines
Brunei
Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia
Singapore
I n d o n e s i a
I n d o n e s i a
I n d o n e s i a
Foundation[edit]
ASEAN was prefigured by an organisation
called the Association of Southeast
Asia (ASA), a group consisting of the
Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand that
was formed in 1961. ASEAN itself was
inaugurated on 8 August 1967,
when foreign ministers of five countries;
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, and Thailand, signed the
ASEAN Declaration, more commonly
known as the Bangkok Declaration.
The creation of ASEAN was motivated by a
common fear of communism,[15] and a thirst
for economic development.
ASEAN grew when Brunei
Darussalam became its sixth member on 7
January 1984, barely a week after gaining
independence.[16]
Expansion and further integration[edit]
See also: Enlargement of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations
A clickable Euler diagram showing the
relationships between various
Asian regional organisationsv d e
ASEAN achieved greater cohesion in the
mid-1970s following the changed balance
of power in Southeast Asia after the end of
the Vietnam War. The regions dynamic
economic growth during the 1970s
strengthened the organisation, enabling
ASEAN to adopt a unified response to
Vietnams invasion of Cambodia in 1979.
ASEAN's first summit meeting, held in Bali,
Indonesia, in 1976, resulted in an
agreement on several industrial projects
and the signing of a Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation, and a Declaration of Concord.
The end of the Cold War between the
United States and the Soviet Union at the
end of the 1980s allowed ASEAN countries
to exercise greater political independence
in the region, and in the 1990s ASEAN
emerged as a leading voice on regional
trade and security issues.[17]
On 28 July 1995, Vietnam became
ASEAN's seventh member.[18] Laos and
Myanmar (Burma) joined two years later on
23 July 1997.[19] Cambodia was to have
joined together with Laos and Burma, but
entry was delayed due to the country's
internal political struggle. The country later
joined on 30 April 1999, following the
stabilisation of its government.[19][20]
In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of
an East Asia Economic
Caucus[21] composed of the members of
ASEAN as well as the People's Republic of
China, Japan, and South Korea, with the
intention of counterbalancing the growing
influence of the United States in Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and
in the Asian region as a whole.[22][23] The
proposal failed, however, because of heavy
opposition from the US and
Japan.[22][24] Member states continued to
work for further integration and ASEAN
Plus Three was created in 1997.
In 1992, the Common Effective Preferential
Tariff (CEPT) scheme was adopted as a
schedule for phasing out tariffs, and as a
goal to increase the "region's competitive
advantage as a production base geared for
the world market". This law would act as the
framework for the ASEAN Free Trade
Area (AFTA). AFTA is an agreement by
member nations concerning local
manufacturing in ASEAN countries. The
AFTA agreement was signed on 28
January 1992 in Singapore.[25]
After the East Asian Financial Crisis of
1997, a revival of the Malaysian proposal
was put forward in Chiang Mai, known as
the Chiang Mai Initiative, which called for
better integration of the economies of
ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Plus
Three countries, China, Japan, and South
Korea.
The bloc also focused on peace and
stability in the region. On 15 December
1995, the Southeast Asian Nuclear-
Weapon-Free Zone Treaty was signed with
the intention of turning Southeast Asia into
a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. The treaty
took effect on 28 March 1997 after all but
one of the member states had ratified it. It
became fully effective on 21 June 2001,
after the Philippines ratified, effectively
banning all nuclear weapons in the
region.[26]
Charter[edit]
Main article: ASEAN Charter

The Secretariat of ASEAN at Jalan

Sisingamangaraja No.70A, South Jakarta,
Indonesia
On 15 December 2008, the members of
ASEAN met in the Indonesian capital
of Jakarta to launch a charter, signed in
November 2007, with the aim of moving
closer to "an EU-style community".[27] The
charter turns ASEAN into a legal entity and
aims to create a single free-trade area for
the region encompassing 500 million
people. President of Indonesia Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono stated that "This is a
momentous development when ASEAN is
consolidating, integrating and transforming
itself into a community. It is achieved while
ASEAN seeks a more vigorous role in
Asian and global affairs at a time when the
international system is experiencing a
seismic shift", he added, referring to climate
change and economic upheaval, and
concluded "Southeast Asia is no longer the
bitterly divided, war-torn region it was in the
1960s and 1970s".
The 2008 global financial crisis was seen
as being a threat to the goals envisioned by
the charter,[28] and also set forth the idea of
a proposed human rights body to be
discussed at a future summit in February
2009. This proposition caused controversy,
as the body would not have the power to
impose sanctions or punish countries who
violated citizens' rights and would therefore
be limited in effectiveness.[29] The body was
established later in 2009 as the ASEAN
Intergovernmental Commission on Human
Rights (AICHR). In November 2012, the
commission adopted the ASEAN Human
Rights Declaration.[30]
The Asean way[edit]
The 'Asean Way' refers to a methodology or
approach to solving issues that respects the
cultural norms of Southeast Asia.
Masilamani and Peterson summarise it as:
"...a working process or style that is
informal and personal. Policymakers
constantly utilise compromise, consensus,
and consultation in the informal decision-
making process...it above all prioritizes a
consensus-based, non-conflictual [sic] way
of addressing problems. Quiet diplomacy
allows ASEAN leaders to communicate
without bringing the discussions into the
public view. Members avoid
embarrassment that may lead to further
conflict."[31]
It has been said that the merits of the
ASEAN Way might "...be usefully applied to
global conflict management."[32]:pp113-118
Critics object that the ASEAN Way's
emphasis on consultation, consensus, and
non-interference forces the organisation to
adopt only those policies which satisfy the
"lowest common denominator". Decision
making by consensus requires members to
see eye-to-eye before ASEAN can move
forward on an issue. Further, members may
not have a common conception of the
meaning of the "ASEAN Way". Myanmar,
Cambodia, and Laos emphasise non-
interference. Older members focus on co-
operation and co-ordination. These
differences hinder efforts to find common
solutions to particular issues, but also make
it difficult to determine when collective
action is appropriate in a given
situation.[33]:161-163
Asean Plus Three[edit]
The leaders of each country felt the need to
further integrate the region. Beginning in
1997, the bloc began creating organisations
with the intention of achieving this
goal. Asean Plus Three was the first of
these and was created to improve existing
ties with the People's Republic of
China, Japan, and South Korea. This was
followed by the even larger East Asia
Summit (EAS), which included ASEAN Plus
Three countries as well as India, Australia,
New Zealand, United States, and Russia.
This new grouping acted as a prerequisite
for the planned East Asia Community,
which was supposedly patterned after the
now-defunct European Community.
The ASEAN Eminent Persons Group was
created to study the possible successes
and failures of this policy as well as the
possibility of drafting an ASEAN Charter.
In 2006, ASEAN was given observer status
at the United Nations General
Assembly.[34] In response, the organisation
awarded the status of "dialogue partner" to
the UN.[35]
Economy[edit]

Selection of GDP PPP data (top 10

countries and blocks) in no particular order
Overview[edit]
ASEAN is built on three pillars:[6] the
ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC),[36] the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC),[37]and the ASEAN
Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)[38]
ASEAN seeks economic integration by
creating an ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC) by end-2015 to establish a common
market.[39] The average economic growth of
ASEAN's member nations during 1989
2009 was between 3.8% and 7%. This
economic growth was greater than the
average growth of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC), which was
2.8%.[40]
The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) which
was established on 28 January
1992[25] includes a Common Effective
Preferential Tariff (CEPT) to promote the
free flow of goods between member
states.[39] When the AFTA agreement was
originally signed, ASEAN had only six
members (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand).
Vietnam joined in 1995, Laos and Burma in
1997, and Cambodia in 1999. The
newcomers have not fully met AFTA's
obligations, but they are officially
considered part of the AFTA as they were
required to sign the agreement upon entry
into ASEAN, and were given longer time
frames in which to meet AFTA's tariff
reduction obligations.[41]
The next steps are to create a:
single market and production base
competitive economic region

region of equitable economic

development
region fully integrated into the global

economy
Since 2007, ASEAN countries have
gradually lowered their import duties with
member nations. The target is zero import
duties by 2016.[42]
Internal market[edit]
By the end of 2015, ASEAN plans to
establish a common market based upon
the four freedoms. The single market will
ensure the free flow of goods, services,
investment and skilled labour and the free
flow of capital.
Until end of 2010, intra-Asean trade was
still low, trade was mainly exports to
countries outside the region, with the
exception of Laos and Myanmar which
were ASEAN-oriented in foreign trade with
80% and 50% respectively of their exports
to other ASEAN countries.[43]
In 2009, realised foreign direct
investment (FDI) was US$37.9 billion and
increased two-fold in 2010 to
US$75.8 billion. Twenty-two percent of FDI
came from the European Union, followed by
ASEAN countries (16%), followed by Japan
and the US.
An ASEAN Framework Agreement on
Trade in Services (AFAS) was adopted at
the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in
December 1995.[44] Under AFAS, ASEAN
member states enter into successive
rounds of negotiations to liberalise trade in
services with the aim of submitting
increasingly higher levels of commitment.
At present, ASEAN has concluded seven
packages of commitments under AFAS.[45]
Free flow of skilled labour[edit]
Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)
have been agreed by ASEAN for eight
professions: physicians; dentists; nurses;
architects; engineers; accountants;
surveyors; and tourism professionals, to be
free to work in any ASEAN nation after the
start of the AEC, 31 December
2015.[46] Applicants must be licensed and
recognised professionals in these fields in
their home countries. They can move to
other ASEAN countries to practice, but they
must pass that country's licensing test. In
Thailand licensing tests will be in the Thai
language. In addition, one cannot be an
independent practitioner. Any foreign
professional intending to work in, e.g.,
Thailand must collaborate with a local
business. Given these hurdles, it is unlikely
that there will be mass migrations of
professionals in the near-
term.[47] A Chulalongkorn University study
predicts that more-developed countries
stand to benefit most from the free flow of
professionals.[48]
Free trade[edit]
Free trade initiatives in ASEAN are
spearheaded by the implementation of the
ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement
(ATIGA) and Agreement on Customs.
These agreements are supported by work
done by several sectoral bodies to plan and
execute free trade measures, guided by the
provisions and the requirements of ATIGA
and the Agreement on Customs. The
progress being made by these sectoral
bodies forms the backbone for achieving
the targets of the AEC Blueprint and
establishing the ASEAN Economic
Community by end-2015.[49]
2007 was the 40th anniversary of ASEAN's
formation. It also marked 30 years of
diplomatic relations with the US.[50] On 26
August 2007, ASEAN stated that it aims to
complete all its free trade agreements with
China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia,
and New Zealand by 2013, in line with the
start of the ASEAN Economic Community
by 2015.[51][52]In November 2007 ASEAN
members signed the ASEAN Charter, a
constitution governing relations among
ASEAN members and establishing ASEAN
itself as an international legal entity.[citation
needed]
During the same year, the Cebu
Declaration on East Asian Energy
Security was signed on 15 January 2007,
by ASEAN and the other members of
theEAS (Australia, People's Republic of
China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South
Korea), which pursues energy security by
finding energy alternatives to conventional
fuels.[citation needed]
On 27 February 2009 a free trade
agreement with the ASEAN regional bloc of
10 countries and Australia and its close
partner New Zealand was signed, it is
believed that this FTA would boost
combined GDP across the 12 countries by
more than US$48 billion over the period
20002020.[53][54] ASEAN members together
with the groups six major trading partners,
Australia, China, India, Japan, New
Zealand and South Korea, began the first
round of negotiations on 2628 February
2013 in Bali, Indonesia, on establishment of
the Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership.[55]
ASEAN six majors[edit]
Refers to the six largest economies in the
area with economies many times larger
than the remaining four ASEAN countries.
 GDP (nominal GDP (PPP 2015
GD
2015 estimate) estimate)
Country
(billions of US (billions of US
(U
dollars) [56] dollars) [56]

Indonesia $914.973 $2,744.414 $

Thailand $397.475 $1,054.996 $

Malaysia $375.633 $800.169 $

Philippines $330.259 $751.770 $

Singapore $320.245 $467.162 $

Vietnam $204.539 $547.934 $

ASEAN Capital Markets Forum
(ACMF)[edit]
The ACMF is collaboration among the
seven stock exchanges
of Malaysia, Vietnam (2
exchanges), Indonesia, Philippines, Thailan
d, and Singapore. It includes 70% of the
transaction values of the seven ASEAN
stock exchanges.[57] Its objective is the
integration of ASEAN stock exchanges so
as to compete with international exchanges.
Development gap[edit]
ASEAN members by
Human Development Index[58]:160162
Country HDI (2013)
Singapore 0.901 very high
Brunei 0.852 very high
Malaysia 0.773 high
Thailand 0.722 high
Indonesia 0.684 medium
ASEAN 0.669 medium
Philippines 0.660 medium
Vietnam 0.638 medium
 Cambodia 0.584 medium
Laos 0.569 medium
Myanmar 0.524 low
When Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and
Cambodia joined ASEAN in the late 1990s,
concerns were raised about a gap in
average per capita GDP between older and
newer members. In response, the Initiative
for ASEAN Integration (IAI) was formed by
ASEAN as a regional integration policy with
the goal of bridging this developmental
divide, which, in addition to disparities
in per capita GDP, is manifested by
disparities in dimensions of human
development such as life
expectancy and literacy rates. Other than
the IAI, other programmes for the
development of the Mekong Basinwhere
all four newer ASEAN members are
locatedthat tend to focus
on infrastructure development were
enacted. In general, ASEAN (with the
notable exception of Singapore)[citation
needed]
does not have the financial resources
to extend substantial grants or loans to the
new members. Therefore, it usually leaves
the financing of these infrastructure projects
to international financial institutions and
to developed countries. Nevertheless, it
mobilised funding from these institutions
and countries and from the ASEAN-6
(Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei
Darussalam, Singapore, and Thailand)
themselves for areas where the
development gap needs to be bridged
through the IAI programme. Other
programmes intended for the development
of the ASEAN-4 take advantage of the
geographical proximity of the CLMV
(Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam)
countries and tend to focus on
infrastructure development in areas
like transport, tourism, and power
transmission.[59]
Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP)[edit]
RCEP consists of all ten ASEAN countries
plus six countries (China, Japan, South
Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand) which
have trade agreement with ASEAN
countries. RCEP covers 45% of world
population and about a third of world's total
GDP. For example, New Zealand exports
about 60% of its exports to RCEP
countries. RCEP is extension of ASEAN
plus three and then ASEAN plus six.[60][61][62]
Monetary union[edit]
The concept of an Asian Currency Unit
(ACU) started in the middle of the nineties,
prior to the Asian currency meltdown.[63] It is
a proposed basket of Asian currencies,
similar to the European Currency Unit,
which was the precursor of the Euro. The
Asian Development Bank is responsible for
exploring the feasibility and construction of
the basket.[63][64]
Since the ACU is being considered to be a
precursor to a common currency in the
future, it has a dynamic outlook of the
region.[65] The overall goal of a common
currency is to contribute to the financial
stability of a regional economy, including
price stability. It means lower cost of cross-
border business through the elimination of
currency risk for the members of the
monetary union. Greater flows of intra-
regional trade would put pressure on prices,
resulting in cheaper goods and services.
Individuals benefit not only from the
lowering of prices, they also make savings
by not having to change money when
travelling within the union, by being able to
compare prices more readily, and by the
reduced cost of transferring money across
borders. However, there are conditions for
a common currency: the intensity of intra-
regional trade and the convergence of
macroeconomic conditions. Substantial
intra-ASEAN trade and economic
integration is an incentive for a monetary
union. Intra-ASEAN trade is growing, partly
as a result of the ASEAN Free Trade Area
(AFTA) and the ASEAN Economic
Community.
However some obstacles remain. ASEAN
currently trades more with other countries
(80%) than among its member countries
(20%). Therefore, ASEAN economies are
more concerned about currency stability
against major international currencies, like
the US dollar. On macroeconomic
conditions, ASEAN member countries have
different levels of economic development,
capacity and priorities that translate into
different levels of interest and readiness.
Monetary integration however implies less
control over national monetary and fiscal
policy to stimulate the economy. Therefore,
greater convergence in macroeconomic
conditions is being enacted to improve
conditions and confidence in a common
currency.[66] On the other hand, there are
also constraints on the adoption of one
currency, such as, diversity in the level of
economic development across countries,
weaknesses in the financial sectors of
many countries, inadequacy of regional-
level resource pooling mechanisms and
institutions required for forming and
managing a currency union, and lack of
political preconditions for monetary co-
operation and a common currency.[67]
Free-trade agreements[edit]
ASEAN has concluded free trade
agreements with China (expecting bilateral
trade of $500 billion by 2015),[68] Korea,
Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and
India.[69] ASEAN-India bilateral trade
crossed the US$70 billion target in 2012
(target was to reach the level only by
2015).[citation needed] The agreement with
People's Republic of China created
theASEANChina Free Trade
Area (ACFTA), which went into full effect on
1 January 2010. In addition, ASEAN is
currently negotiating a free trade agreement
with the European Union.[69] Republic of
China (Taiwan) has also expressed interest
in an agreement with ASEAN but needs to
overcome diplomatic objections from
China.[70]
From CMI to AMRO[edit]
Due to the Asian financial crisis of 1997 to
1998 and long and difficult negotiations with
the International Monetary Fund, ASEAN+3
agreed to set up a mainly bilateral currency
swap scheme known as the 2000 Chiang
Mai Initiative (CMI) in anticipation of
another financial crisis in the future. In 2006
they agreed to meld the CMI with
multilateralisation and call it CMIM. On 3
May 2009, they agreed to make a currency
pool consisting of contributions:
US$38.4 billion each by China and Japan,
US$19.2 billion by South Korea and
US$24 billion from all ASEAN members,
totalling US$120 billion.[71] A key
component has also newly been added,
with the establishment of a surveillance
unit.[72]
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic and
Research Office (AMRO) started its
operation in Singapore in May 2011.[73] It
performs a key regional surveillance
function of the US$120 billion Chiang
Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM)
currency swap facility.[74]
Some analysts think that the sum of
US$120 billion is relatively small (covering
only about 20% of needs), so co-ordination
or help from the IMF is still needed.[75] On 3
May 2012 ASEAN+3 finance ministers
agreed to double emergency reserve fund
to US$240 billion.[76]
Single aviation market[edit]
The ASEAN Single Aviation
Market (ASEAN-SAM), is the region's
aviation policy geared towards the
development of a unified and single aviation
market in Southeast Asia. The aviation
policy was proposed by the ASEAN Air
Transport Working Group, supported by the
ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting,
and endorsed by the ASEAN Transport
Ministers.[77] The ASEAN-SAM is expected
to liberalise air travel between member-
states in the ASEAN region, allowing
ASEAN airlines to directly benefit from the
growth in air travel, and also free up
tourism, trade, investment, and service
flows between member states.[77][78] Since 1
December 2008, restrictions on the third
and fourth freedoms of the air between
capital cities of member states for air
passengers services have been
removed,[79] while from 1 January 2009, full
liberalisation of air freight services in the
region took effect.[77][78] On 1 January 2011,
full liberalisation on fifth freedom traffic
rights between all capital cities took
effect.[80] The ASEAN Single Aviation
Market policy supersedes existing
unilateral, bilateral and multilateral air
services agreements among member states
which are inconsistent with its provisions.
Tourism[edit]
With the institutionalisation of visa-free
travel between ASEAN member states,
intra-ASEAN travel has boomed, a sign that
endeavours to form an ASEAN community
may bear fruit in years to come. In 2010,
47% or 34 million out of 73 million tourists
in ASEAN member-states were from other
ASEAN countries.[81]
ASEAN co-operation in tourism was
formalised in 1976, following formation of
Sub-Committee on Tourism (SCOT) under
the ASEAN Committee on Trade and
Tourism. The 1st ASEAN Tourism Forum
was held on 1826 October 1981 in Kuala
Lumpur. In 1986, ASEAN Promotional
Chapters for Tourism (APCT) were
established in Hong Kong, West Germany,
UK, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, and
North America.[82]
Tourism has been one of the key growth
sectors in ASEAN and has proven resilient
amid economic challenges globally. The
wide array of tourist attractions across the
region drew 81 million tourists to ASEAN in
2011, up by 30% compared to 62 million
tourists in 2007. As of 2012, tourism was
estimated to account for 4.6% of ASEAN
GDP10.9% when taking into account all
indirect contributions. It directly employed
9.3 million people, or 3.2% of total
employment, and indirectly supported some
25 million jobs.[83] In addition, the sector
accounted for an estimated 8% of total
capital investment in the region.[84]
On January 2012, ASEAN tourism ministers
called for the development of a marketing
strategy. The strategy represents the
consensus of ASEAN National Tourism
Organisations (NTOs) on marketing
directions for ASEAN moving forward to
2015.[85]
In the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness
Index (TTCI) 2013 report, Singapore placed
1st, Malaysia placed 8th, Thailand placed
9th, Indonesia placed 12th, Brunei placed
13th, Vietnam placed 16th, Philippines
placed 17th, and Cambodia placed 20th as
the top destinations of travellers in the Asia
Pacific region.[86]
Foreign affairs and summits[edit]

ASEAN members' flags in Jakarta

Royal Thai Embassy, Helsinki, flying its
own national flag as well as ASEAN's flag

A billboard in Jakarta welcoming delegates

for the 2011 ASEAN Summit
ASEAN identity[edit]
ASEAN's planned integration of its ten
member nations has challenged its citizens
to embrace a regional identity. The call for
ASEAN identity delivers a challenge to
construct dynamic institutions and foster
sufficient amounts of social capital. The
underlying assumption is that the creation
of a regional identity is of special interest to
ASEAN and the intent of the 2020 Vision
policy document was to reassert the belief
in a regional framework designed as an
action plan related to human development
and civic empowerment. Accordingly, these
assumptions will be the basis for
recommendations and strategies in
developing a participatory regional
identity.[87]
ASEAN summits[edit]
The organisation holds meetings, known
as ASEAN Summits, where heads of
government of each member meet to
discuss and resolve regional issues, as well
as to conduct other meetings with countries
outside the bloc to promote external
relations.
The first ASEAN summit was held in Bali in
1976. Its third meeting was in Manila in
1987 and during this meeting, it was
decided that the leaders would meet every
five years.[88] The fourth meeting was held
in Singapore in 1992 where the leaders
decided to meet more frequently, every
three years.[88] In 2001, it was decided to
meet annually to address urgent issues
affecting the region. Member nations were
assigned to be the summit host in
alphabetical order except in the case
of Burma which dropped its 2006 hosting
rights in 2004 due to pressure from
the United States and the European
Union.[89]
In December 2008, the ASEAN Charter
came into force and with it, the ASEAN
Summit will be held twice a year.
The formal summit meets for three days.
The typical agenda is as follows:
Leaders of member states would hold an
internal organisation meeting.
Leaders of member states hold a
conference together with foreign ministers
of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
A meeting, known as ASEAN Plus Three,
is set for leaders of three dialogue
partners (People's Republic of
China, Japan, South Korea)
A separate meeting, known as ASEAN-
CER, is with the two dialogue partners
(Australia and New Zealand).[citation needed]
ASEAN Formal Summits

Host
No. Date Country Host
leader
 2324
Indonesi
1st Feb Bali Suharto
a
1976

45
Kuala Hussein
2nd Aug Malaysia
Lumpur Onn
1977

1415
Philippin Corazon
3rd Dec Manila
es Aquino
1987

2729
Singapor Singapo Goh Chok
4th Jan
e re Tong
1992

1415
Bangko Banharn
5th Dec Thailand
k Silpa-archa
1995
 1516
Phan Vn
6th Dec Vietnam Hanoi
Khi
1998

Bandar
56
Seri Hassanal
7th Nov Brunei
Begawa Bolkiah
2001
n

45
Cambodi Phnom
8th Nov Hun Sen
a Penh
2002

78 Megawati
Indonesi
9th Oct Bali Soekarnop
a
2003 utri

2930
10t Vientia Bounnhang
Nov Laos
h ne Vorachith
2004
 1214 Abdullah
11t Kuala
Dec Malaysia Ahmad
h Lumpur
2005 Badawi

1114 Gloria
12t Philippin
Jan 2 Cebu Macapagal-
h es
20071 Arroyo

1822
13t Singapor Singapo Lee Hsien
Nov
h e re Loong
2007

27
Feb1
Cha
Mar
14t Am, Hu Abhisit
2009 Thailand
h3 a Hin Vejjajiva
1011
Pattaya
April
2009
 23
Cha
15t Octob
Thailand Am, Hu
h er
a Hin
2009

89
16t
Apr Vietnam Hanoi
h3
2010
Nguyn
Tn Dng
2831
17t
Oct Vietnam Hanoi
h
2010

78
18t Indonesi
May Jakarta
h4 a
2011 Susilo
Bambang
1419 Yudhoyono
19t Indonesi
Nov Bali
h4 a
2011
 34
20t Cambodi Phnom
Apr
h a Penh
2012
Hun Sen
1720
Cambodi Phnom
21st Nov
a Penh
2012

Bandar
2425
22n Seri
Apr Brunei
d Begawa
2013
n
Hassanal
Bolkiah
Bandar
910
23r Seri
Oct Brunei
d Begawa
2013
n

1011
24t Myanma Nay Pyi
May Thein Sein
h r Taw
2014
 1012
25t Myanma Nay Pyi
Nov
h r Taw
2014

2627
26t Langka Najib Tun
Apr Malaysia
h wi Razak
2015

1
Postponed from 1014 December 2006 due
to Typhoon Utor.

2
hosted the summit because Burma backed out
due to enormous pressure from US and EU

3
This summit consisted of two parts.
The first part was moved from 1217
December 2008 due to the 2008 Thai political
crisis.
The second part was aborted on 11 April due to
protesters entering the summit venue.
4
Indonesia hosted twice in a row by
swapping years with Brunei, as it will play
host to APEC (and the possibility of hosting
the G20summit which ultimately fell to Russia)
in 2013.

During the fifth summit in Bangkok, the

leaders decided to meet "informally"
between each formal summit.[88]

[show]ASEAN Informal Summits

East Asia Summit[edit]
Main article: East Asia Summit

Participants of the East Asia Summit

ASEAN
ASEAN Plus Three
ASEAN Plus Six
Observer
The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a pan-Asian
forum held annually by the leaders of 18
countries in the East Asian region, with
ASEAN in a leadership position.
Membership was initially all 10 members of
ASEAN plus China, Japan, South Korea,
India, Australia, and New Zealand, but
expanded to include the United States and
Russia at the Sixth EAS in 2011.
The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur
on 14 December 2005 and subsequent
meetings have been held after the annual
ASEAN Leaders' Meeting. The summit has
discussed issues including trade, energy
and security and the summit has a role
in regional community building.

[show]East Asia Summits

Commemorative summit[edit]
Main article: ASEAN Free Trade Area
A commemorative summit is a summit
hosted by a non-ASEAN country to mark a
milestone anniversary of the establishment
of relations between ASEAN and the host
country. The host country invites the heads
of government of ASEAN member countries
to discuss future co-operation and
partnership.

[show]Commemorative Summits
Regional Forum[edit]

ASEAN full members

ASEAN observers
ASEAN candidate members
ASEAN Plus Three
East Asia Summit
ASEAN Regional Forum
The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a
formal, official, multilateral dialogue in Asia
Pacific region. As of July 2007, it consists of
27 participants. ARF objectives are to foster
dialogue and consultation, and promote
confidence-building and preventive
diplomacy in the region.[94] The ARF met for
the first time in 1994. The current
participants in the ARF are as follows: all
the ASEAN members, Australia,
Bangladesh, Canada, the People's
Republic of China, the European Union,
India, Japan, North Korea, South Korea,
Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua
New Guinea, Russia, East Timor, United
States and Sri Lanka.[95]
The Republic of China (also known
as Taiwan) has been excluded since the
establishment of the ARF, and issues
regarding the Taiwan Strait are neither
discussed at the ARF meetings nor stated
in the ARF Chairman's Statements.
Other meetings[edit]
Aside from the ones above, other regular
meetings are also held.[11] These include
the annual ASEAN Ministerial Meeting[96] as
well as other smaller
committees.[97] Meetings mostly focus on
specific topics, such as defence or
the environment,[98] and are attended
by ministers, instead of heads of
government.
The ASEAN Plus Three is a meeting
between ASEAN, China, Japan, and
South Korea, and is primarily held during
each ASEAN Summit. Until now China,
Japan and South Korea have not yet
formed Free Trade Area (FTA), the
meeting about FTA among them will be
held at end of 2012.[99]
The AsiaEurope Meeting (ASEM) is an
informal dialogue process initiated in 1996
with the intention of strengthening co-
operation between the countries of
Europe and Asia, especially members of
the European Union and ASEAN in
particular.[100] ASEAN, represented by its
Secretariat, is one of the 45 ASEM
 partners. It also appoints a representative
to sit on the governing board of Asia-
Europe Foundation (ASEF), a socio-
cultural organisation associated with the
meeting.
The ASEANRussia Summit is an
annual meeting between leaders of
member states and the President of
Russia.
Mass media[edit]
ASEAN Ministers Responsible for
Information (AMRI)[edit]
ASEAN member states promote co-
operation in information to help build an
ASEAN identity. One of the main bodies in
ASEAN co-operation in information is the
ASEAN Committee on Culture and
Information (COCI). Established in 1978, its
mission is to promote effective co-operation
in the fields of information, as well as
culture, through its various projects and
activities. The COCI includes
representatives from national institutions
like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ministries of Culture and Information,
national radio and television networks,
museums, archives and libraries, among
others. Together, they meet once a year to
formulate and agree on projects to fulfil
their mission.[101]
ASEAN Media Cooperation[edit]
ASEAN Media Cooperation (AMC) sets
digital television standards and policies in
preparation for broadcasters to transition
from analogue to digital broadcasting. This
collaboration was conceptualised during the
11th ASEAN Ministers Responsible for
Information (AMRI) Conference in Malaysia
on 1 March 2012 where a consensus
declared that both new and traditional
media were keys to connecting ASEAN
peoples and bridging cultural gaps in the
region.[102]
Several key initiatives under the AMC
include:[103]
The ASEAN Media Portal[104] was
launched 16 November 2007. The portal
aims to provide a one-stop site that
contains documentaries, games, music
videos, and multimedia clips on the
culture, arts, and heritage of the ASEAN
countries to showcase ASEAN culture
and the capabilities of its media industry.
The ASEAN NewsMaker Project, an
initiative launched in 2009, trains students
and teachers to produce informational
video clips about their countries. The
project was initiated by Singapore.
Students trained in NewsMaker software,
video production, together with
developing narrative storytelling skills. Dr
Soeung Rathchavy, Deputy Secretary-
General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-
Cultural Community noted that, "Raising
ASEAN awareness amongst the youth is
 part and parcel of our efforts to build the
ASEAN Community by 2015. Using ICT
and the media, our youths in the region
will get to know ASEAN better, deepening
their understanding and appreciation of
the cultures, social traditions and values
in ASEAN."[105]
The ASEAN Digital Broadcasting Meeting,
an annual forum for ASEAN members to
set digital television (DTV) standards and
policies and to discuss progress in the
implementation of the blueprint from
analogue to digital TV broadcasting by
2020. During the 11th ASEAN Digital
Broadcasting Meeting[106] members
updated the status on DTV
implementation and agreed to inform
ASEAN members on the Guidelines for
ASEAN Digital Switchover.[107] An issue
was raised on the availability and
affordability of set top boxes (STB), thus
ASEAN members were asked to make
 policies to determine funding for STBs,
methods of allocation, subsidies and
rebates and other methods for the
allocation of STBs. It was also agreed in
the meeting to form a task force to
develop STB specifications for DVB-T2 to
ensure efficiency.
ASEAN Integration 2015[edit]
For nearly two decades, the ASEAN was
composed of only five countries, its 8
August 1967
founders: Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Other
southeast Asian countries joined in different
times: Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos
and Myanmar (1997),
and Cambodia (1999).
Beginning in 1997, heads of each member
states adopted the ASEAN Vision 2020
during ASEAN's 30th anniversary held
in Kuala Lumpur. This vision, as a means
for the realisation of a single ASEAN
community, sees Southeast Asia to become
a concert of nations which are "outward
looking, living in peace, stability and
propsperity."[108] Included were provisions
on peace and stability, being nuclear-free,
closer economic integration, human
development, sustainable development,
cultural heritage, being drug-free,
environment, among others. The Vision
also aimed to "see an outward-looking
ASEAN playing a pivotal role in the
international fora, and advancing ASEAN's
common interests."[109] Such vision was
formalised and made comprehensive
through the Bali Concord II in 2003. Three
major pillars of a single ASEAN community
were originally established: (1) ASEAN
Security Community, (2) ASEAN Economic
Community and (3) ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community.[110] The ASEAN Community,
initially planned to commence by 2020, was
accelerated to be achieved by 2015. This
was decided upon by heads of member
states during last 2007 during the 12th
ASEAN Summit in Cebu.[111]
On 20 November 2007, the ASEAN Charter
was signed in Singapore, 40 years after the
founding of ASEAN. Also concurrently
signed was the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) Blueprint. This was to
establish the region with stronger rules-
based norms and values shared among all
member states. The charter was later
ratified in 2008.[112] To full embody the three
Bali Concord II pillars as part of the 2015
integration, blueprints for ASEAN Political-
Security Community (APSC) and ASEAN
Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) were
subsequently adopted in 2009 in Cha-Am,
Thailand.[113]
ASEAN Economic Community
Blueprint[edit]
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is
now often referred to as "AEC 2015" since
its original implementation date was
brought forward from 2020 to 31 December
2015. As one of the three pillars of the
ASEAN, it aims to "implement economic
integration initiatives" to create a single
market across ASEAN nations. On 20
November 2007, during the 13th ASEAN
Summit in Singapore, its blueprint, which
serves as a master plan guiding the
establishment of the ASEAN Economic
Community 2015, was adopted.[114]
The ASEAN Economic Community is the
goal of regional economic integration by
2015. Its characteristics include: (1) a single
market and production base, (2) a highly
competitive economic region, (3) a region of
fair economic development, and (4) a
region fully integrated into the global
economy. The areas of co-operation
include human resources development;
recognition of professional qualifications;
closer consultation on macroeconomic and
financial policies; trade financing measures;
enhanced infrastructure and
communications connectivity; development
of electronic transactions through e-
ASEAN; integrating industries across the
region to promote regional sourcing; and
enhancing private sector involvement.
Through the free movement of skilled
labour, goods, services and investment,
ASEAN will rise globally as one market with
each member gaining from each other's
strengths, thus increasing its
competitiveness and opportunities for
development.[115]
The AEC is the embodiment of the
ASEAN's vision of "...a stable, prosperous
and highly competitive ASEAN economic
region in which there is a free flow of
goods, services, investment and a freer
flow of capital, equitable economic
development and reduced poverty and
socio-economic disparities.[116]
The formulation of an AEC Blueprint
established the members' commitment to a
common goal as well as ensuring
compliance with stated objectives and
timelines. The AEC Blueprint lays out the
overall vision as well as the goals,
implementing plans and strategies (actions)
as well as the strategic schedule (timeline)
for achieving the establishment of the AEC
by end-2015.[116]
ASEAN will officially declare the
establishment of an ASEAN Economic
Community by end-December 2015. For
ASEAN economies and citizens, it will be
business as usual because the key
agreements and regulations that will govern
the business and economic relationships
under the AEC are already in place and
operational.[116]
Reinforcing ASEAN relations[edit]
The conduct of the 2nd BIMP-EAGA and
IMT-GT Trade Fair and Business Leaders
Conference on 2226 October 2014 in
Davao City, Philippines, signified the
renewed commitment of the four member
countries namely, Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia, and Philippines (BIMP) to further
the cause of the East ASEAN Growth Area
(EAGA) co-operation as a model for the
2015 ASEAN Integration. In the
Conference, Deputy Secretary General of
ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic
Community, Dr. Lim Hong Hin, said that the
convergence of the BIMP-EAGA and
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth
Triangle (IMT-GT) will amplify the
subregions full potential and maximise its
initial gain towards greater engagement in
the larger ASEAN community. The vision of
the BIMP-EAGA initiative is to realise
socially acceptable and sustainable
economic development and the full
participation of the sub region in the
ASEAN development process. BIMP-EAGA
was proposed in 1992 by then Philippine
President Fidel V. Ramos as a major
economic initiative in ASEAN. The idea of
expanding the economic co-operation
among the border areas of Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the
Philippines was supported by the leaders of
the three countries which eventually led to
the creation of BIMP-EAGA launched on 24
March 1994 in Davao City, Mindanao,
Philippines. The subregion covers a land-
area of 1.54 million square kilometres and a
population of 70 million.[117]
The improved regional-subregional
collaborations will spur trade, investment
and SME development through enhanced
backward linkages, production system and
forward linkages. The convergence will also
facilitate the completion of region wide
infrastructure projects such as the Sumatra
Port Development, Melaka-Pekan Baru
Power Interconnection and Sumatra Toll
Roads Project. The subregions
convergence will create synergy in
transport facilitation by forging Greater
Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross Border
Trade Arrangement and BIMP-EAGA Cross
Border Arrangement. Promote clustering
and branding through collaborative tourism
promotion, tailored agro-based industries
strategies and addressing environmental
issues. The greater co-ordination among
the subregions, maximising synergy with
the full participation of the stakeholders will
ensure equitable economic benefits of the
ASEAN countries facing the challenge of
globalisation.[118]
2020 ASEAN Banking Integration
Framework[edit]
As the flow of goods, services, investment,
capital and skilled labour between countries
are liberalised with the ASEAN Economic
Integration in 2015, the need arises for
ASEAN banking institutions to
accommodate and expand its services to a
greater intra-ASEAN market. While the
ASEAN financial integration isnt going to
take effect until 2020, experts from the
financial services industry have already
forecast a shaky economic transition,
especially for smaller players in the banking
and financial services industry.
Two separate reports by Standard &
Poor's entitled "Asean Financial Integration:
The Long Road to Bank Consolidation" and
"The Philippines Banking System: The
Good, the Bad and the Ambivalent."
respectively, outlined the challenges
ASEAN financial institutions are facing as
they prepare for the 2020 banking
integration. The Philippines, with its
overcrowded banking sector for example is
among the ASEAN-member countries who
are forecast to feel the most pressure as
the integration welcomes tighter
competition with the entry of bigger, more
established foreign banks.[119] To lessen the
impact of this consolidation, countries with
banking sectors considered smaller by
global standards must expand regionally.
S&P in a follow up report recently cited the
Philippines for "shoring up its network
bases and building up capital ahead of the
banking integration playing defence and
strengthening their domestic networks.[119]
Roadmap for ASEAN financial
integration[edit]
The Roadmap for the Integration of ASEAN
in Finance is the latest regional initiative,
which aims to strengthen regional self-help
and support mechanisms. The
implementation of the roadmap will
contribute to the realisation of the ASEAN
Economic Community that was launched by
the ASEAN leaders in October 2003 in Bali.
The AEC is the end-goal of economic
integration as outlined in the ASEAN Vision
2020 and the Bali Concord II to establish a
single market and production base,
characterised by the free movement of
goods, services, investment, and a freer
flow of capital. The AEC will also facilitate
the movement of businessmen, skilled
labour, and talent within the region. As in
the EU, adoption of an ASEAN common
currency when the conditions are ripe could
be the final stage of the ASEAN Economic
Community. Under the roadmap,
approaches and milestones have been
identified in areas deemed crucial to
financial and monetary integration, namely
(a) capital market development, (b) capital
account liberalisation, (c) financial services
liberalisation, and (d) ASEAN currency co-
operation. Capital market development
entails promoting institutional capacity,
including the legal and regulatory
framework, as well as the facilitation of
greater cross-border collaboration, linkages
and harmonisation between capital markets
in the region. Orderly capital account
liberalisation will be promoted with
adequate safeguards against volatility and
systemic risks. To expedite the process of
financial services liberalisation, ASEAN has
agreed on a positive list modality and
adopted milestones to facilitate
negotiations. Currency co-operation would
involve exploration of possible currency
arrangements, including an ASEAN
currency payment system for trade in local
goods to reduce the demand for US dollars
and help promote stability of regional
currencies, such as by settling intra-ASEAN
trade using regional currencies.[66]
While in the offing of an ASEAN common
currency, the leaders of the members-
states of ASEAN in November 1999 agreed
to create the establishment of currency
swaps and repurchase agreements as a
credit line against future financial shocks. In
May 2000, the finance minister of the
ASEAN agreed through the "Chiang Mai
Initiative" to plan for closer monetary and
financial co-operation.[120] The "Chiang Mai
Initiative" or CMI, named after the City of
Chiang Mai in Thailand, has two
components: an expanded ASEAN Swap
Arrangement and a network of bilateral
swap arrangements among ASEAN
countries, China, Japan, and the Republic
of Korea. The ASEAN Swap Arrangement
or ASA preceded the regional financial
crisis. ASA was originally established by the
ASEAN central bank and monetary
authorities of the five founding members of
ASEAN with a view to help countries meet
temporary liquidity problems. An expanded
ASA now includes all ten ASEAN countries
with an expanded facility of US$1 billion. In
recognition of the economic
interdependence of East Asia, which has a
combined foreign exchange reserves
amounting to about US$1 trillion, a network
of bilateral swap arrangements and
repurchase agreements among ASEAN
countries, China, Japan and the Republic of
Korea has been agreed upon. The
supplementary facility aims to provide
temporary financing for members which
may be in balance-of-payments difficulties.
In 200, 16 bilateral swap arrangements
(BSAs) have been successfully concluded
with a combined amount of about US$35.5
billion.[121] The original CMI was signed on 9
December 2009 which took effect on 20
March 2014, while the amended version,
the multilateralisation of CMI (CMIM), was
on 17 July 2014. CMIM is a multilateral
currency swap arrangement with the total
size of US$240 billion, governed by a single
contractual agreement, while the CMI is a
network of bilateral swap arrangements
among the "Plus Three" and ASEAN
countries authorities. In addition, an
independent regional surveillance unit
called the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic
Research Office (AMRO) was established
to monitor and analyse regional economies
and support the CMIM decision-making
process.[121] The amendments will
effectively allow access of the ASEAN+3
member countries and Hong Kong to an
enhanced CMIM package, which includes,
among others the doubling of the fund size
from US$120 billion to US$240 billion, an
increase in the level of access not linked to
an International Monetary Fund program
from 2030% and the introduction of a
crisis prevention facility. These
amendments are expected to fortify CMIM
as the region's financial safety net in the
event of any potential or actual liquidity
difficulty.[122]
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research
Office (AMRO) will serve as the
independent regional surveillance unit of
the CMIM. The establishment of AMRO will
ensure timely monitoring and analysis of
the ASEAN+3 economies, which will in turn
aid in the early detection of risks, swift
implementation of remedial actions, and
effective decision-making of the CMIM. In
particular, the AMRO will, during peace
time, conduct annual consultations with
individual member economies and on this
basis, prepare quarterly consolidated
reports on the macroeconomic assessment
of the ASEAN+3 region and individual
member countries. On the other hand, the
AMRO will, during crisis time, prepare
recommendations on any swap request
based on its macroeconomic analysis of the
swap requesting member and monitor the
use and impact of funds once any swap
request is approved. AMRO was officially
incorporated as a company limited by
guarantee in Singapore on 20 April 2011
and its office is at the Monetary Authority of
Singapore complex in Singapore.
Governance of AMRO is being exercised by
the Executive Committee (EC) and its
operational direction by the Advisory Panel
(AP). AMRO is currently headed by Dr
Yoichi Nemoto of Japan, who is serving his
second 2-year term until 26 May
2016.[121] Stability in the financial system is
a precondition to maintain the momentum
of ASEAN economic integration. In turn, the
more ASEAN economies become
integrated, the more feasible it is to adopt
an ASEAN single currency, which is
expected to reinforce even further stability
and integration in Southeast Asia.[66]
Food security[edit]
ASEAN member nations recognise the
importance of strengthening food security to
maintain stability and prosperity in the
region. The World Food Summit of 1996
defined food security as existing "when all
people at all times have access to
sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a
healthy and active life".[123]
Part of the aim for ASEAN integration is
collectively achieve food security via trade
in rice and maize. Trade facilitation
measures and the
harmonisation/equivalency of food
regulation and control standards will reduce
the cost of trade in food products. While
specialisation and revealed comparative
and competitive indices point to
complementarities between trade patterns
among the ASEAN member countries,
intra-ASEAN trade in agriculture is quite
small. However, integration could address
this problem.[124] The MARKET project will
provide flexible and demand-driven support
to the ASEAN Secretariat, while bringing
more private-sector and civil-society input
into regional agriculture policy dialogue. By
building an environment that reduces
barriers to trade, ASEAN trade will
increase, thereby decreasing the risk of
another food price crisis.[125]
As ASEAN moves towards an integrated
community in 2015 and beyond, food
security should be an integral part of the
ASEAN community building agenda and
deserves more attention.[126]
Reception and Criticisms[edit]
ASEAN's integration plan has raised
concerns. In particular, meeting the 2015
deadline has been questioned. Business
and economy experts who attended the
Lippo-UPH Dialogue in Naypyidaw cited
unresolved issues relating to aviation,
agriculture, and human
resources.[127] Some panellists, among
them, Kishore Mahbubani, warned against
high expectations at the onset. He stated:
"Please do not expect a big bang event in
2015 where everything is going to happen
overnight when the ASEAN Economic
Community comes into being. We've made
progress in some areas and unfortunately
regressed in some areas.[128]
Some panellists enumerated other matters
to be dealt with for a successful launch.
Among them were the communications
issues involving the 600 million citizens
living in the region, creating a heightened
level of understanding from the business
sector, current visa arrangements, demand
for specific skills, banking connections, and
economic differences between member-
nations. Former Philippine National
Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)
Secretary General Romulo A. Virola, said in
2012 that the Philippines does not appear
to be ready to benefit from ASEAN
integration due to its "wobbly" economic
performance compared to other ASEAN
member countries. According to Virola, the
Philippines continues to lag behind in terms
of employment rate, tourism, life
expectancy, and cellular
subscriptions.[129] Nestor Tan, head of BDO
Unibank Inc., said that while some
businesses see the Asian Economic
Blueprint (AEC) as an opportunity, the
integration would be more of a threat to
local firms. Tan added that protecting the
Philippines' agricultural and financial
services sectors, as well as the labour
sector, would be necessary for the
implementation of AEC by
2015.[130] Standard & Poor's also believed
that banks in the Philippines are not yet
prepared for the tougher competition that
would result from the integration of
Southeast Asian economies. In one of its
latest publications, S&P said banks in the
country, although profitable and stable,
operate on a much smaller scale than their
counterparts in the region.[130]
The US Chamber of Commerce has
highlighted the widespread concern that the
much-anticipated AEC could not be
launched by the end-2015 deadline.[131] In
January 2014, former ASEAN Secretary-
General Rodolfo C. Severino, wrote, "while
ASEAN should not be condemned for its
members' failure to make good on their
commitments, any failure to deliver will
likely lead to a loss of credibility and could
mean that member countries fall further
behind in the global competition for export
markets and foreign direct
investment(FDI)".[132] This is not the first
time that AEC faces a probable delay. In
2012, the commencement of the AEC was
postponed to 31 December 2015 from the
original plan of 1 January 2015. Despite
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan's
firm reassurance that "[t]here will be no
more delays and that all ten ASEAN
countries will participate", even the most
fervent proponents of AEC are beginning to
worry about the increasingly diminishing
chance of delivering AEC on time as
December 2015 nears.[133]
An article published by Vietnam
News echoed some of the challenges and
opportunities that Vietnam faces in
preparation for the AEC. The article said
that the deputy head of the Import-Export
Department under the Ministry of Industry
and Trade, Tran Thanh Hai, was concerned
about the local enterprises' lack of
knowledge of the AEC. It was said that 80%
of local enterprises surveyed acknowledged
that they have little information about the
interests and challenges available for them
in the ASEAN market. The article also
stated what the general secretary of
Vietnam Steel Association, Chu Duc Khai,
said that most of the local enterprises lack
information about doing business in the
ASEAN market and that they did not have
the chance to study the ASEAN market and
have only exported small amount of steel to
ASEAN countries. Another challenge for
Vietnam, as the article cited, would be the
need to compete with other countries in the
ASEAN market to export raw products
since the country had mainly exported raw
products.[134]
The Asian Development Bank also has
doubts about Cambodia's ability to meet the
AEC deadline in 2015. The leading
economist of ADB, Jayant Menon, said that
Cambodia needs to speed up its customs
reform and to press ahead with automating
processes to reduce trade costs and
minimise the opportunities for corruption
and be ready for the implementation of its
National Single Window by 2015.[135]
ASEAN Political-Security Community
Blueprint[edit]
During the 14th ASEAN Summit held 26
February to 1 March 2009, the ASEAN
heads of state/governments adopted
the ASEAN Political-Security Community
Blueprint(APSC).[136] This document is
designed to create a robust political-
security environment within ASEAN, with
programs and activities outlined to establish
the APSC by 2015. It carries forward the
principles and purposes of the ASEAN
charter and is based on the ASEAN
Security Community Plan of Action, the
Vientiane Action Programme, and other
relevant decisions.
The APSC aims to create a community that
portrays the following characteristics: a
rules-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-looking region
in an increasingly integrated and
interdependent world.
ASEAN Defense Industry
Collaboration[edit]
The ASEAN Defense Industry Collaboration
(ADIC) was proposed at the 4th ASEAN
Defense Ministers' Meeting on 11 May 2010
in Hanoi.[137] The emergence of this concept
was triggered by the fact that majority of the
ASEAN member states are regular
importers of defence and security
equipment. One of the purposes of this
concept is to reduce defence imports from
non-ASEAN countries by half (i.e., from
US$25 billion down to US$12.5 billion a
year) and to further develop the defence
industry in the region.[138]
The concept was formally adopted during
the 5th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting
(ADMM) on 19 May 2011 in Jakarta,
Indonesia,[139] in line with the ADMM
agreement to enhance security co-
operation in the following areas: maritime
security, humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief, counter terrorism, and
military medicine. Its goal points toward
actions that will enhance security in each of
the ASEAN member state.[140][141]
Its main focus is to boost the capacity of
ASEAN industrially and technologically
consistent with the principles of flexibility,
non-binding, and voluntary participation
among ASEAN member states.[142][143] The
concept revolves around education and
capability building program to develop the
skills and capabilities of manpower, sharing
in the production of capital for defence
equipment, components, and spares and
the provision of repair and maintenance
services to address all the defence and
security needs of each country. It also aims
to develop the defence trade in the region
by encouraging ASEAN member states to
participate in the intra-ASEAN defence
trade and support trade shows and
exhibitions.[137]
ADIC aims to establish a strong defence
industry relying on the local capabilities of
each ASEAN member state, and limit
annual procurement from original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) outside
the region.[137] Countries like the USA,
Germany, Russia, France, Italy, UK, China,
South Korea, Israel, and the Netherlands
are among the major suppliers to
ASEAN.[144]
Military expenditures in ASEAN reached
US$35.5 billion in 2013 (excluding Brunei
and Myanmar), which surpassed the 2004
figure (US$14.4 billion) by 147% and is
expected to exceed US$40 billion by
2016.[145] Factors affecting the increase in
military budget are economic growth,
ageing equipment, and the plan to
strengthen the establishment of defence
industry in the region.[146]
There are challenges to the defence
collaboration effort in the ASEAN; the
unequal level of capabilities among ASEAN
member states in the field of defence
industry, and the lack of established
defence trade among them.[140] Prior to the
adoption of the ADIC concept, the status of
defence industry base in each of the
ASEAN member state was at disparate
level.[140] Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia,
and Thailand are among the top ASEAN
member states with established defence
industry base. But, even these four
countries possess different levels of
capacities, while the rest of the remaining
member states like Philippines, Lao PDR,
Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia have
yet to develop and enhance their
capabilities in this aspect.[137][140]
Of the ten ASEAN member states,
Singapore and Indonesia are among the
most competitive players in the area of
defence industry. Indonesia is the only
ASEAN member state recognised as one of
the top 100 global defence suppliers from
2010-2013.[147][148] ASEAN member states
purchase virtually no defence products from
inside ASEAN. Singapore purchases
defence products from Germany, France,
and Israel, but none from any of the ASEAN
member states. Malaysia purchased only
0.49% from ASEAN, Indonesia 0.1%, and
Thailand 8.02%.[140]
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
Blueprint[edit]
It was also during the 14th ASEAN Summit
that the governments of ASEAN adopted
the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
Blueprint (ASCC).[149] The ASCC envisions
an "ASEAN Community that is people-
centered and socially responsible with a
view to achieving enduring solidarity and
unity among the nations and peoples of
ASEAN by forging a common identity and
building a caring and sharing society which
is inclusive and harmonious where the well-
being, livelihood, and welfare of the peoples
are enhanced." Among its focus areas are
human development, social welfare and
protection, social justice and rights,
ensuring environmental sustainability,
building the ASEAN identity, and narrowing
the development gap.
The AEC Scorecard[edit]
To track the progress of the AEC, the AEC
Scorecard, a compliance tool developed
based on the EU Internal Market
Scorecard, was adopted by
ASEAN.[133] This regional economic
scorecard is the only scorecard in
effect[150] and is expected to serve as an
unbiased assessment tool to measure the
extent of integration among its members
and the economic health of the region. It is
expected to provide relevant information
about regional priorities and in this way
foster productive, inclusive and sustainable
growth. Moreover, scores create incentives
for improvement by highlighting what is
working and what is not.[151]
The AEC Scorecard is also a compliance
tool that makes it possible to monitor the
implementation of ASEAN agreements and
the achievement of milestones indicated in
the AEC Strategic Schedule. The
Scorecard outlines specific actions that
must be undertaken by ASEAN collectively
and by its member states individually to
establish an AEC by 2015.[151]
To date, two official scorecards have been
published, one in 2010[152] and the other in
2012.[153] According to the AEC Scorecard
2012, the implementation rates of AEC's
four primary objectives: (a) single market
and production base; (b) competitive
economic region; (c) equitable economic
development; and (d) integration into the
global economy were 65.9%, 67.9%,
66.7%, and 85.7%, respectively, with 187
out of 277 measures being fully
implemented by 2011.[133]
The AEC Scorecard is purely quantitative. It
only examines whether an ASEAN member
state has performed the AEC task or not.
The more "yes" answers, the higher the
score.[150]
While Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand have
eliminated 99.65% of their tariff lines,
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam
have decreased tariffs on 98.86% of their
lines to the 0-5% tariff range in 2010, and
are projected to eliminate tariffs on these
goods by 2015, with the ability to do so for
a few import duty lines until 2018.[154]
According to Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore's
Minister for Trade and Industry, ASEAN
was already the seventh largest economy in
the world and the third largest in Asia in
2013, estimated at US$2.3 trillion. A recent
study by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
has projected that five of the top 15
manufacturing locations in the world will be
in ASEAN by 2018. Furthermore, by 2050,
ASEAN is also expected to be the fourth-
largest economy in the world (after the
European Union, the US, and China).[154]
The AEC envisions the free flow of
overseas labour. However, receiving
countries may require would-be workers to
take licensing examinations in those
countries regardless of whether or not the
worker has a professional license from their
home country.[155]
Singapore is the major ASEAN destination
for skilled migrants from other ASEAN
countries, mostly from Malaysia and the
Philippines. Total employment in Singapore
doubled between 1992 and 2008 from 1.5
million to three million, and the number of
foreign workers almost tripled, from fewer
than 400,000 to almost 1.1 million. High-
skilled foreign talents (customer service,
nursing, engineering, IT) earn at least
US$2,000 a month and with a credential
(usually a college degree) receive S
Passes, employment passes, including an
EP-1 for those earning more than
US$7,000 a month, EP-2 for those earning
US$3,5007,000 a month, and EP-3 for
those earning US$2,5003,500 a month.[156]
In the recent years, Singapore has been
slowly cutting down the number of foreign
workers to challenge companies to upgrade
their hiring criteria and offer more jobs to
local residents. The International Monetary
Fund (IMF) has warned that the Singapore
policy of reducing the number of foreign
workers could retard the country's
economic growth and lower its
competitiveness.[157]
Narrowing the Development Gap[edit]
Narrowing the Development Gap (NDG) is
ASEAN's framework for addressing
disparities among and within member-
states where pockets of underdevelopment
exist. Under NDG, ASEAN has continued
co-ordinating closely with other subregional
co-operation frameworks in the region (e.g.,
BIMP-EAGA, IMT-GT, GMS, Mekong
programmes), viewing them as "equal
partners in the development of regional
production and distribution networks" in the
AEC, and as a platform to "mainstream
social development issues in developing
and implementing projects," in the context
of the ASCC.[158]
The six-year IAI Work Plans have been
developed to assist the CLMV countries as
well as ASEAN's other sub-regions to
ensure that the economic wheels of their
economies move at an accelerated pace.
IAI Work Plan I was implemented from
2002 to 2008, prior to the development of
the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community
(2009-2015). IAI Work Plan II (2009-2015)
supports the goals of the ASEAN
Community and is composed of 182
prescribed actions, which includes studies,
training programmes, and policy
implementation support conducted through
projects supported by ASEAN-6 countries,
and ASEAN's Dialogue partners and
external parties. The IAI Work Plan is
patterned after and supports the key
programme areas in the three ASEAN
Community Blueprints: ASEAN Political-
Security Community Blueprint, ASEAN
Economic Community Blueprint, and
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
Blueprint.
The IAI Task Force, composed of
representatives of the Committee of
Permanent Representatives and its working
group from all ten ASEAN member states,
is in charge of providing general advice and
policy guidelines and directions in the
design and implementation of the IAI Work
Plan. All ten ASEAN member-states are
represented in the IAI Task Force, with the
task force chaired by representatives of the
four CLMV countries. Chairmanship is
rotated annually in alphabetical order.
The ASEAN Secretariat, in particular
through the IAI and NDG Division, supports
the implementation and management of the
IAI Work Plan and coordinates activities
related to sub-regional frameworks. This
includes servicing meetings, assisting in the
formulation, implementation, monitoring and
reporting of projects, resource mobilisation
and overall operational co-ordination
among various IAI&NDG-related
stakeholders. The Division works closely
with the Dialogue Partners and international
agencies to develop strategies and
programmes to assist in promoting and
implementing IAI and NDG activities in
ASEAN.[158]
ASEAN Communication Master Plan[edit]
ASEAN foreign ministers launched the
ASEAN Communication Master Plan
(ACPM) on 11 November 2014.[159]
The ACPM provides a framework for
communicating the character, structure,
and overall vision of ASEAN and the
ASEAN community to key audiences within
the region and globally.[160] The plan seeks
to demonstrate the relevance and benefits
of the ASEAN through fact-based and
compelling communications, recognising
that the ASEAN community is unique and
different from other country integration
models.
ASEAN security blueprint[edit]
The ASEAN Convention on Counter-
Terrorism (ACCT) serves as a framework
for regional co-operation to counter,
prevent, and suppress terrorism and
deepen counter-terrorism co-operation.[161]
ACCT was signed by ASEAN leaders in
2007. The sixth ASEAN member state,
Brunei, ratified it on 28 April 2011 and on
27 May 2011, the convention came into
force. Malaysia became the tenth member
state to ratify ACCT on 11 January
2013.[161]
Environment[edit]

Haze over Borneo, 2006

 Plastic waste dumping: A study based
on 2010 data concluded that five ASEAN
nations are among the top ten (of 192
countries with ocean shorelines, Laos not
among them as it is landlocked) dumpers
of plastic waste into the ocean. Indonesia
was ranked the second worst polluter; the
Philippines third; Vietnam fourth; Thailand
sixth; and Malaysia eighth.[162]
Threatened mammal
species: ASEAN nations fared poorly in
this World Bank study: Indonesia was
number one of 214 nations (1=worst,
214= best) on the world list of threatened
mammals, with 184 species under threat.
The remaining ASEAN nations were
ranked, Malaysia, 7; Thailand, 9; Vietnam,
12; Myanmar, 14; Laos, 15; The
Philippines, 19; Cambodia, 20; Brunei, 25;
and Singapore, 93, of 214 countries.[163]
Threatened fish species: ASEAN
member-state Indonesia ranked fifth of
 215 nations (1=worst, 215=best) in fish
species at risk; Thailand ranked 12; The
Philippines, 18; Malaysia, 19; Vietnam,
20; Laos, 29; Cambodia, 51; Myanmar,
52; Singapore, 84; and Brunei, 175.[164]
Threatened (higher) plant species: The
World Bank estimated in 2014 that, world-
wide, 13,583 higher plant species are
threatened. Of 215 nations, Malaysia
ranked number two of 215 (1=worst,
216=best) in number of species
threatened (133 species). Indonesia
ranked sixth; The Philippines, 16;
Vietnam, 21; Thailand, 26; Brunei, 33;
Singapore, 53; Myanmar, 59; Cambodia,
74; and Laos, 75.[165]
Deforestation: Indonesia lost 17 million
hectares of tree cover from 2001-2013,
the fifth largest loss of 203 nations.
Malaysia ranked eighth (5 Mha loss);
Myanmar, 19 (2 Mha); Cambodia, 23 (1.5
Mha); Laos, 24 (1.4 Mha); Vietnam, 27
 (1.3 Mha); Thailand, 29 (1.1 Mha); The
Philippines, 39 (664 Kha); Brunei, 117 (18
Kha); and Singapore, 155, (867 ha).[166]
At the turn of the 21st century, ASEAN
began to discuss environmental
agreements. These included the signing of
the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution in 2002 as an attempt to
control haze pollution in Southeast
Asia.[167] Unfortunately, this was
unsuccessful due to the outbreaks of
the 2005 Malaysian haze and 2006
Southeast Asian haze, 2009 Southeast
Asian haze, 2013 Southeast Asian
haze and 2015 Southeast Asian haze. As of
2015, 13 years after signing the ASEAN
Agreement on Transboundary Haze
Pollution the situation about the long term
issue Southeast Asian haze hasn't been
changed for half (50%) of
the ASEAN member states and still
reamains as a Southeast Asian haze crisis
every two years during summer and
fall. [168] [169] [170]
Yet other serious issues like trash dumping
of foreign nations to ASEAN has yet to be
discussed. In 2015, tons of trash dumped
by Canada to the pier of Manila in the
Philippines through container vans in 2013
were to be dumped in the province of
Tarlac. With the media nationalizing the
issue, the government has since filed a
diplomatic protest against Canada, of which
Canada has yet to respond.
Education[edit]
While high performing Asian
economies and the six oldest ASEAN
members have invested heavily in public
education at the primary and secondary
levels, tertiary education has been left
largely to the private sector.[171] Tertiary
education in Southeast Asia is, in general,
relatively weak in terms of technological
capacity and integration such as in credit
transfer schemes. Singapore is highly
focused on innovation while the rest of the
region lags behind.[172] In most cases
universities are focused on teaching and
service to government rather
than academic research. Universities in
Southeast Asia, both in terms of academic
salaries and research infrastructure
(libraries, laboratories), tend to be poorly
supported financially. Moreover, regional
academic journals cater to their local
audiences and respond less to international
standards which makes universal or
regionalbenchmarking difficult.[173]
Governments have a vested interest in
investing in education and other aspects
of human capital infrastructure, especially
rapidly developing nations such as those
within ASEAN. In the short run, investment
spending directly supports aggregate
demand and growth. In the longer term,
investments in physical
infrastructure, productivityenhancements,
and provision of education and health
services determine the potential for
growth.[174]
Educational integration[edit]
To enhance regional co-operation in
education, ASEAN education ministers
have agreed four priorities for education: (1)
Promoting ASEAN awareness among
ASEAN citizens, particularly youth; (2)
Strengthening ASEAN identity through
education; (3) Building ASEAN human
resources in the field of education; and (4)
Strengthening the ASEAN University
Network.[175]
At the 11th ASEAN Summit in December
2005, ASEAN leaders set new directions for
regional education collaboration when they
welcomed the decision of the ASEAN
education ministers to convene meetings
on a regular basis. The annual ASEAN
Education Ministers Meeting oversees
ASEAN co-operation efforts on education at
the ministerial level. With regard to
implementation, programmes and activities
are carried out by the ASEAN Senior
Officials on Education (SOM-ED). SOM-ED
also manages co-operation on higher
education through the ASEAN University
Network (AUN).[176]
ASEAN university network[edit]
Main article: ASEAN University Network
The ASEAN University Network (AUN) is a
consortium of Southeast Asian tertiary
institutions of which 30 currently belong as
participating universities.[177] Originally
founded in November 1995 by 11
universities within the member
states,[178] the AUN was established to:[175]
Promote co-operation among ASEAN
scholars, academics, and scientists in the
region
Develop academic and professional
human resources in the region
 Promote information dissemination
among the ASEAN academic community
Enhance awareness of a regional identity

and the sense of "ASEAN-ness" among

members
Southeast Asia Engineering Education
Development Network Project[edit]
The Southeast Asia Engineering Education
Development Network (SEED-Net) Project,
was established as an autonomous sub-
network of the ASEAN University
Network (AUN) in April 2001. SEED-Net is
aimed at promoting human resource
development in engineering in ASEAN. The
network consists of 26 member institutions
selected by higher education ministries of
each ASEAN member state and 11
supporting Japanese universities selected
by the Japanese government. This network
is mainly supported by the Japanese
government through the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) and partially
supported by the ASEAN Foundation.
SEED-Net activities are implemented by the
SEED-Net secretariat with the support of
the JICA Project for SEED-Net now based
at Chulalongkorn University.
ASEAN Scholarship[edit]
The ASEAN Scholarship is a scholarship
programme offered by Singapore to the
nine other member states for secondary
school, junior college, and university
education. It covers accommodation, food,
medical benefits and accident insurance,
school fees, and examination fees.
Scholarship recipients who then perform
well on the GCE Advanced
Level Examination may apply for ASEAN
undergraduate scholarships, which are
tailored specifically to undergraduate
institutions in Singapore and other ASEAN
member countries.[179] Singapore has
effectively used this programme to attract
many of the best students from the ASEAN
region over the past several years, and
scholars for the most part tend to remain in
Singapore to pursue undergraduate studies
through the ASEAN Undergraduate
Scholarship programme.[180]
Literacy rates[edit]
The table below shows literacy rates among
15- to 24-year-old youths from 10 ASEAN
member states as reported to the United
Nations.[181]

Ad Yo
Ye ult uth
ar (15 A Ad (15- Yo Yo
(m +) du ult 24) ut uth
Coun
ost Lit lt Wo Lit h Wo
try
rec era M me era M me
ent cy en n cy en n
) Rat Rat
e e

Bru 200 97 100 100 100

95% 94%
nei 9 % % % %
 Ad Yo
Ye ult uth
ar (15 A Ad (15- Yo Yo
(m +) du ult 24) ut uth
Coun
ost Lit lt Wo Lit h Wo
try
rec era M me era M me
ent cy en n cy en n
) Rat Rat
e e

Ca
200 85 89
mbodi 78% 71% 87% 86%
8 % %
a

Ind 200 95 100

92% 89% 99% 99%
onesia 8 % %

Lao 200 82 89
73% 63% 84% 79%
s 5 % %

Mal 201 100 100 100 100 100 100

aysia 5 % % % % % %
 Ad Yo
Ye ult uth
ar (15 A Ad (15- Yo Yo
(m +) du ult 24) ut uth
Coun
ost Lit lt Wo Lit h Wo
try
rec era M me era M me
ent cy en n cy en n
) Rat Rat
e e

My 200 95 96
92% 90% 96% 95%
anmar 9 % %

Phil
201 100 100 100 100 100 100
ippine
5 % % % % % %
s

Sin 200 97 100 100 100

95% 92%
gapore 9 % % % %

Tha 200 96 98
94% 92% 98% 98%
iland 5 % %
 Ad Yo
Ye ult uth
ar (15 A Ad (15- Yo Yo
(m +) du ult 24) ut uth
Coun
ost Lit lt Wo Lit h Wo
try
rec era M me era M me
ent cy en n cy en n
) Rat Rat
e e

Viet 200 95 97
93% 91% 97% 96%
nam 9 % %

Culture and sport[edit]

The organisation hosts cultural activities in
an attempt to further integrate the region.
These include sports and educational
activities as well as writing awards.
Examples of these include the ASEAN
Centre for Biodiversity and the ASEAN
Outstanding Scientist and Technologist
Award
Heritage parks[edit]
Main article: ASEAN Heritage Parks
ASEAN Heritage Parks aim to protect the
region's natural treasures. There are now
35 such protected areas, including
the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park and
the Kinabalu National Park.[182]
Songs and music[edit]
The ASEAN Way, the official
regional anthem of ASEAN. Music
by Kittikhun Sodprasert and Sampow
Triudom; lyrics by Payom
Valaiphatchra.
ASEAN Song of Unity or ASEAN Hymn.

Music by Ryan Cayabyab.

Let Us Move Ahead, an ASEAN song.

Composed by Candra Darusman.

ASEAN Rise, ASEAN's 40th Anniversary

song. Music by Dick Lee; lyrics

by Stefanie Sun.
ASEAN competitions[edit]
ASEAN Para Games logo
Southeast Asian Games
ASEAN University Games

ASEAN School Games

ASEAN Para Games

ASEAN Football Championship

2030 FIFA world cup bid[edit]

In January 2011 ASEAN foreign ministers
agreed to bid to host the FIFA World Cup in
2030 as a single entity.[183][184]
Criticisms of ASEAN[edit]
Critics have charged that ASEAN is too soft
in its approach to promoting human rights
and democracy, particularly in junta-led
Burma.[185] Some scholars think that the
non-interference has prevented ASEAN
efforts in handling the problem of Myanmar,
human rights abuse, and haze pollution in
the area. Despite global outrage at the
military crack-down on unarmed protesters
in Yangon, ASEAN has refused to suspend
Burma as a member and also rejects
proposals for economic sanctions.[186] This
has caused concern as the European Union
has refused to conduct free trade
negotiations at a regional level for these
political reasons.[187]
Some international observers view ASEAN
as a "talk shop",[188] stating that the
organisation is "big on words but small on
action".[189] "ASEAN policies have proven to
be mostly rhetoric, rather than actual
implementation," says Pokpong Lawansiri,
a Bangkok-based independent analyst of
ASEAN. "It has been noted that less than
50% of ASEAN agreements are actually
implemented, while ASEAN holds more
than 600 meetings annually."[190]
The head of the International Institute of
Strategic Studies Asia, Tim Huxley, cites
the diverse political systems present in the
grouping, including many young states, as
a barrier to far-reaching co-operation
outside the economic sphere. He also
asserts that in the absence of an external
threat to rally against with the end of
the Cold War, ASEAN has begun to be less
successful at restraining its members and
resolving border disputes such as those
between Burma and Thailand and that of
Indonesia and Malaysia.[191]
During the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu,
several activist groups staged anti-
globalisation protests.[192] According to the
activists, the agenda of economic
integration would negatively affect
industries in the Philippines and would
cause thousands of Filipinos to lose their
jobs.[193]
The biggest criticism ASEAN is facing is the
embroiling tensions in the South China Sea
dispute, where four of the member states
are involved, namely,
the Philippines, Vietnam,Malaysia,
and Brunei. Since the Scarborough Shoal
Standoff, where China has forcefully
occupied Scarborough Shoal which was
traditionally used by Filipinos as fishing
grounds and has been recognized by the
Philippines as part of its integral territory
since the colonial era, the Philippines has
been the most vocal against Chinese
incursions in the dispute, even bringing its
case against China in an United Nations
international tribunal in the Hague, the first
case filed by a nation against China, were
Vietnam, Japan, and most Western
countries, especially the United States have
supported greatly. Vietnam, on the other
hand, has been in the most conflict with
China since the start of the dispute, being
bordered by both land and sea with China.
The conflict focuses on the Paracel Islands,
which China as forcefully occupied in the
19th century from Vietnam, though Vietnam
also claims all the Spratly Islands. Brunei,
claiming only one reef, has been very silent
on the issue ever since it started, mostly
because of economic trade with China.
While Malaysia, a nation with deep
economic ties with China and a nation with
billions on Chinese investment standing on
a string, has remained neutral and 'China-
friendly' in the conflict despite claiming
various reefs and islands in the Sptralys
and despite China claiming most of its
territorial waters and exclusive economic
zones in Borneo.}
ASEAN has yet to be united in the face of
China's massive reclamation activities and
incursions in the South China Sea,
especially when China is heavily supported
by member states Cambodia, a traditional
Chinese ally, and Malaysia, which China
has a firm grip due to economic
ties. Myanmar and Laos have been former
'satellite nations' of China and are still
heavily influenced by China,
while Singapore's population is mostly
immigrant Chinese and Chinese
descendants. Thailand has yet to impose a
better and more concrete stand on the
issue. Of the member states, not yet
involved in the dispute, Indonesia has given
the best stand, where it supports the
diplomatic approach of
the Philippines many times. Indonesia's
exclusive economic zone in its Natuna
Islands overlaps with the so-called Nine-
Dash Line of China.
Taiwan, also a claimant, has no concrete
relations with any ASEAN states, but has
an informal office in the Philippines. With
the dispute escalating through time, instead
of slowly being resolved multilaterally, a
third World War is subject of controversy,
with Vietnam, the Philippines, China,
Taiwan, and even Japan has been building
their military powers in an alarming rate.
Despite approval of Vietnam and the
Philippines for multinational talks, China
has only accepted bilateral talks, where
China has the upper hand. With
thePhilippines-United States Defense
Treaty and a Mutual Defense Agreement
between Taiwan and The United States in
full effect, a possible war is expected to
engage the global opera once again if not
resolved at the present time, something that
ASEAN needs to resolve first through
regional unison.[194]
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Flag Emblem
Motto:
"One Vision, One Identity, One
Community"[1]

Anthem: The ASEAN Way

Secretariat Jakarta, Indonesiaa
Working English[show]
language

10 states[show]
Membership
2 observers[show]

Leaders
- Current ASEAN Malaysia
Chair
- Secretary L Lng Minh[2]
General

Establishment
- Bangkok 8 August 1967
Declaration
- Charter 16 December 2008

Area
- Total 4,435,618[3] km2
1,712,602 sq mi
Population
- 2013 estimate 625 million[3]

- Density 141/km2
365/sq mi

GDP (PPP) estimate

- Total US$3.6 trillion[4]

- Per capita US$5,869[4]

GDP (nominal) 2015 estimate
- Total US$2.6 trillion[4]

- Per capita US$4,160[4]

HDI (2013) 0.669b

medium

Currency 10 currencies[show]

Time zone ASEAN(UTC+9 to +6:3

0)

Calling code 10 codes[show]

Internet TLD 10+1 TLDs[show]

Website
www.asean.org
a.
Address: Jalan Sisingamangaraja
No.70A, South Jakarta.[5]
 b.
Calculated using UNDP data from member
states.
The Association of Southeast Asian
Nations[6] (ASEAN /si.n/ AH-see-
ahn,[7] /zi.n/ AH-zee-ahn)[8][9] is a
political and economic organisation of
ten Southeast Asian countries. It was
formed on 8 August 1967
by Indonesia, Malaysia,
the Philippines,Singapore,
and Thailand.[10] Since then, membership
has expanded to
include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar
(Burma), andVietnam. Its aims include
accelerating economic growth, social
progress, and sociocultural
evolution among its members, protection of
regional peace and stability, and
opportunities for member countries to
resolve differences peacefully.[11][12]
ASEAN covers a land area of 4.4 million
square kilometres, 3% of the total land area
 of the Earth. ASEAN territorial waters cover
an area about three times larger than its
land counterpart. The member countries
have a combined population of
approximately 625 million people, 8.8% of
the world's population. In 2015, the
organisation's combined nominal GDP had
grown to more than US$2.6 trillion. If
ASEAN were a single entity, it would rank
as the seventh largest economy in the
world, behind the US, China, Japan,
Germany, France and the United
Kingdom.[4]
Contents
[hide]
1 Purpose
2 History
o 2.1 Foundation

o 2.2 Expansion and further integration

o 2.3 Charter

o 2.4 The Asean way

o 2.5 Asean Plus Three

 3 Economy
o 3.1 Overview

o 3.2 Internal market

o 3.3 Free trade

o 3.4 ASEAN six majors

o 3.5 ASEAN Capital Markets Forum

(ACMF)
o 3.6 Development gap

o 3.7 Monetary union

o 3.8 Free-trade agreements

o 3.9 From CMI to AMRO

4 Single aviation market

5 Tourism
6 Foreign affairs and summits
o 6.1 ASEAN identity

o 6.2 ASEAN summits

o 6.3 East Asia Summit

o 6.4 Commemorative summit

o 6.5 Regional Forum

o 6.6 Other meetings

7 Mass media
 o 7.1 ASEAN Ministers Responsible for
Information (AMRI)
o 7.2 ASEAN Media Cooperation

8 ASEAN Integration 2015

o 8.1 ASEAN Economic Community

Blueprint
o 8.2 ASEAN Political-Security Community

Blueprint
o 8.3 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

Blueprint
o 8.4 The AEC Scorecard

o 8.5 Narrowing the Development Gap

9 ASEAN Communication Master Plan

10 ASEAN security blueprint
11 Environment
12 Education
o 12.1 Educational integration

o 12.2 Literacy rates

13 Culture and sport

o 13.1 Heritage parks

o 13.2 Songs and music

o 13.3 ASEAN competitions

 13.4 2030 FIFA world cup bid
o

14 Criticisms of ASEAN
15 See also
16 Literature
17 References
18 Further reading
19 External links
Purpose[edit]
As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the
aims and purposes of ASEAN are:[13]
To accelerate economic growth, social
progress, and cultural development in the
region.
To promote regional peace and stability.
To promote collaboration and mutual
assistance on matters of common
interest.
To provide assistance to each other in the
form of training and research facilities.
 To collaborate for the better utilisation of
agriculture and industry to raise the living
standards of the people.
To promote Southeast Asian studies.
To maintain close, beneficial co-operation
with existing international organisations
with similar aims and purposes[14]
History[edit]
See also: Member states of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations
Wikisource has
original text
related to this
article:
Bangkok
Declaration
The member states of ASEAN
Myanmar
Laos
Vietnam
Thailand
Cam-
bodia
Philippines
Brunei
Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia
Singapore
I n d o n e s i a
I n d o n e s i a
 I n d o n e s i a
Foundation[edit]
ASEAN was prefigured by an organisation
called the Association of Southeast
Asia (ASA), a group consisting of the
Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand that
was formed in 1961. ASEAN itself was
inaugurated on 8 August 1967,
when foreign ministers of five countries;
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, and Thailand, signed the
ASEAN Declaration, more commonly
known as the Bangkok Declaration.
The creation of ASEAN was motivated by a
common fear of communism,[15] and a thirst
for economic development.
ASEAN grew when Brunei
Darussalam became its sixth member on 7
January 1984, barely a week after gaining
independence.[16]
Expansion and further integration[edit]
See also: Enlargement of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations

A clickable Euler diagram showing the

relationships between various
Asian regional organisationsv d e
ASEAN achieved greater cohesion in the
mid-1970s following the changed balance
of power in Southeast Asia after the end of
the Vietnam War. The regions dynamic
economic growth during the 1970s
strengthened the organisation, enabling
ASEAN to adopt a unified response to
Vietnams invasion of Cambodia in 1979.
ASEAN's first summit meeting, held in Bali,
Indonesia, in 1976, resulted in an
agreement on several industrial projects
and the signing of a Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation, and a Declaration of Concord.
The end of the Cold War between the
United States and the Soviet Union at the
end of the 1980s allowed ASEAN countries
to exercise greater political independence
in the region, and in the 1990s ASEAN
emerged as a leading voice on regional
trade and security issues.[17]
On 28 July 1995, Vietnam became
ASEAN's seventh member.[18] Laos and
Myanmar (Burma) joined two years later on
23 July 1997.[19] Cambodia was to have
joined together with Laos and Burma, but
entry was delayed due to the country's
internal political struggle. The country later
joined on 30 April 1999, following the
stabilisation of its government.[19][20]
In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of
an East Asia Economic
Caucus[21] composed of the members of
ASEAN as well as the People's Republic of
China, Japan, and South Korea, with the
intention of counterbalancing the growing
influence of the United States in Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and
in the Asian region as a whole.[22][23] The
proposal failed, however, because of heavy
opposition from the US and
Japan.[22][24] Member states continued to
work for further integration and ASEAN
Plus Three was created in 1997.
In 1992, the Common Effective Preferential
Tariff (CEPT) scheme was adopted as a
schedule for phasing out tariffs, and as a
goal to increase the "region's competitive
advantage as a production base geared for
the world market". This law would act as the
framework for the ASEAN Free Trade
Area (AFTA). AFTA is an agreement by
member nations concerning local
manufacturing in ASEAN countries. The
AFTA agreement was signed on 28
January 1992 in Singapore.[25]
After the East Asian Financial Crisis of
1997, a revival of the Malaysian proposal
was put forward in Chiang Mai, known as
the Chiang Mai Initiative, which called for
better integration of the economies of
ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Plus
Three countries, China, Japan, and South
Korea.
The bloc also focused on peace and
stability in the region. On 15 December
1995, the Southeast Asian Nuclear-
Weapon-Free Zone Treaty was signed with
the intention of turning Southeast Asia into
a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. The treaty
took effect on 28 March 1997 after all but
one of the member states had ratified it. It
became fully effective on 21 June 2001,
after the Philippines ratified, effectively
banning all nuclear weapons in the
region.[26]
Charter[edit]
Main article: ASEAN Charter

The Secretariat of ASEAN at Jalan

Sisingamangaraja No.70A, South Jakarta,
Indonesia
On 15 December 2008, the members of
ASEAN met in the Indonesian capital
of Jakarta to launch a charter, signed in
November 2007, with the aim of moving
closer to "an EU-style community".[27] The
charter turns ASEAN into a legal entity and
aims to create a single free-trade area for
the region encompassing 500 million
people. President of Indonesia Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono stated that "This is a
momentous development when ASEAN is
consolidating, integrating and transforming
itself into a community. It is achieved while
ASEAN seeks a more vigorous role in
Asian and global affairs at a time when the
international system is experiencing a
seismic shift", he added, referring to climate
change and economic upheaval, and
concluded "Southeast Asia is no longer the
bitterly divided, war-torn region it was in the
1960s and 1970s".
The 2008 global financial crisis was seen
as being a threat to the goals envisioned by
the charter,[28] and also set forth the idea of
a proposed human rights body to be
discussed at a future summit in February
2009. This proposition caused controversy,
as the body would not have the power to
impose sanctions or punish countries who
violated citizens' rights and would therefore
be limited in effectiveness.[29] The body was
established later in 2009 as the ASEAN
Intergovernmental Commission on Human
Rights (AICHR). In November 2012, the
commission adopted the ASEAN Human
Rights Declaration.[30]
The Asean way[edit]
The 'Asean Way' refers to a methodology or
approach to solving issues that respects the
cultural norms of Southeast Asia.
Masilamani and Peterson summarise it as:
"...a working process or style that is
informal and personal. Policymakers
constantly utilise compromise, consensus,
and consultation in the informal decision-
making process...it above all prioritizes a
consensus-based, non-conflictual [sic] way
of addressing problems. Quiet diplomacy
allows ASEAN leaders to communicate
without bringing the discussions into the
public view. Members avoid
embarrassment that may lead to further
conflict."[31]
It has been said that the merits of the
ASEAN Way might "...be usefully applied to
global conflict management."[32]:pp113-118
Critics object that the ASEAN Way's
emphasis on consultation, consensus, and
non-interference forces the organisation to
adopt only those policies which satisfy the
"lowest common denominator". Decision
making by consensus requires members to
see eye-to-eye before ASEAN can move
forward on an issue. Further, members may
not have a common conception of the
meaning of the "ASEAN Way". Myanmar,
Cambodia, and Laos emphasise non-
interference. Older members focus on co-
operation and co-ordination. These
differences hinder efforts to find common
solutions to particular issues, but also make
it difficult to determine when collective
action is appropriate in a given
situation.[33]:161-163
Asean Plus Three[edit]
The leaders of each country felt the need to
further integrate the region. Beginning in
1997, the bloc began creating organisations
with the intention of achieving this
goal. Asean Plus Three was the first of
these and was created to improve existing
ties with the People's Republic of
China, Japan, and South Korea. This was
followed by the even larger East Asia
Summit (EAS), which included ASEAN Plus
Three countries as well as India, Australia,
New Zealand, United States, and Russia.
This new grouping acted as a prerequisite
for the planned East Asia Community,
which was supposedly patterned after the
now-defunct European Community.
The ASEAN Eminent Persons Group was
created to study the possible successes
and failures of this policy as well as the
possibility of drafting an ASEAN Charter.
In 2006, ASEAN was given observer status
at the United Nations General
Assembly.[34] In response, the organisation
awarded the status of "dialogue partner" to
the UN.[35]
Economy[edit]
Selection of GDP PPP data (top 10
countries and blocks) in no particular order
Overview[edit]
ASEAN is built on three pillars:[6] the
ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC),[36] the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC),[37]and the ASEAN
Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)[38]
ASEAN seeks economic integration by
creating an ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC) by end-2015 to establish a common
market.[39] The average economic growth of
ASEAN's member nations during 1989
2009 was between 3.8% and 7%. This
economic growth was greater than the
average growth of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC), which was
2.8%.[40]
The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) which
was established on 28 January
1992[25] includes a Common Effective
Preferential Tariff (CEPT) to promote the
free flow of goods between member
states.[39] When the AFTA agreement was
originally signed, ASEAN had only six
members (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand).
Vietnam joined in 1995, Laos and Burma in
1997, and Cambodia in 1999. The
newcomers have not fully met AFTA's
obligations, but they are officially
considered part of the AFTA as they were
required to sign the agreement upon entry
into ASEAN, and were given longer time
frames in which to meet AFTA's tariff
reduction obligations.[41]
The next steps are to create a:
 single market and production base
competitive economic region

region of equitable economic

development
region fully integrated into the global

economy
Since 2007, ASEAN countries have
gradually lowered their import duties with
member nations. The target is zero import
duties by 2016.[42]
Internal market[edit]
By the end of 2015, ASEAN plans to
establish a common market based upon
the four freedoms. The single market will
ensure the free flow of goods, services,
investment and skilled labour and the free
flow of capital.
Until end of 2010, intra-Asean trade was
still low, trade was mainly exports to
countries outside the region, with the
exception of Laos and Myanmar which
were ASEAN-oriented in foreign trade with
80% and 50% respectively of their exports
to other ASEAN countries.[43]
In 2009, realised foreign direct
investment (FDI) was US$37.9 billion and
increased two-fold in 2010 to
US$75.8 billion. Twenty-two percent of FDI
came from the European Union, followed by
ASEAN countries (16%), followed by Japan
and the US.
An ASEAN Framework Agreement on
Trade in Services (AFAS) was adopted at
the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in
December 1995.[44] Under AFAS, ASEAN
member states enter into successive
rounds of negotiations to liberalise trade in
services with the aim of submitting
increasingly higher levels of commitment.
At present, ASEAN has concluded seven
packages of commitments under AFAS.[45]
Free flow of skilled labour[edit]
Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)
have been agreed by ASEAN for eight
professions: physicians; dentists; nurses;
architects; engineers; accountants;
surveyors; and tourism professionals, to be
free to work in any ASEAN nation after the
start of the AEC, 31 December
2015.[46] Applicants must be licensed and
recognised professionals in these fields in
their home countries. They can move to
other ASEAN countries to practice, but they
must pass that country's licensing test. In
Thailand licensing tests will be in the Thai
language. In addition, one cannot be an
independent practitioner. Any foreign
professional intending to work in, e.g.,
Thailand must collaborate with a local
business. Given these hurdles, it is unlikely
that there will be mass migrations of
professionals in the near-
term.[47] A Chulalongkorn University study
predicts that more-developed countries
stand to benefit most from the free flow of
professionals.[48]
Free trade[edit]
Free trade initiatives in ASEAN are
spearheaded by the implementation of the
ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement
(ATIGA) and Agreement on Customs.
These agreements are supported by work
done by several sectoral bodies to plan and
execute free trade measures, guided by the
provisions and the requirements of ATIGA
and the Agreement on Customs. The
progress being made by these sectoral
bodies forms the backbone for achieving
the targets of the AEC Blueprint and
establishing the ASEAN Economic
Community by end-2015.[49]
2007 was the 40th anniversary of ASEAN's
formation. It also marked 30 years of
diplomatic relations with the US.[50] On 26
August 2007, ASEAN stated that it aims to
complete all its free trade agreements with
China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia,
and New Zealand by 2013, in line with the
start of the ASEAN Economic Community
by 2015.[51][52]In November 2007 ASEAN
members signed the ASEAN Charter, a
constitution governing relations among
ASEAN members and establishing ASEAN
itself as an international legal entity.[citation
needed]
During the same year, the Cebu
Declaration on East Asian Energy
Security was signed on 15 January 2007,
by ASEAN and the other members of
theEAS (Australia, People's Republic of
China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South
Korea), which pursues energy security by
finding energy alternatives to conventional
fuels.[citation needed]
On 27 February 2009 a free trade
agreement with the ASEAN regional bloc of
10 countries and Australia and its close
partner New Zealand was signed, it is
believed that this FTA would boost
combined GDP across the 12 countries by
more than US$48 billion over the period
20002020.[53][54] ASEAN members together
with the groups six major trading partners,
Australia, China, India, Japan, New
Zealand and South Korea, began the first
round of negotiations on 2628 February
2013 in Bali, Indonesia, on establishment of
the Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership.[55]
ASEAN six majors[edit]
Refers to the six largest economies in the
area with economies many times larger
than the remaining four ASEAN countries.

GDP (nominal GDP (PPP 2015

GD
2015 estimate) estimate)
Country
(billions of US (billions of US
(U
dollars) [56] dollars) [56]

Indonesia $914.973 $2,744.414 $

Thailand $397.475 $1,054.996 $

Malaysia $375.633 $800.169 $

Philippines $330.259 $751.770 $

 Singapore $320.245 $467.162 $

Vietnam $204.539 $547.934 $

ASEAN Capital Markets Forum
(ACMF)[edit]
The ACMF is collaboration among the
seven stock exchanges
of Malaysia, Vietnam (2
exchanges), Indonesia, Philippines, Thailan
d, and Singapore. It includes 70% of the
transaction values of the seven ASEAN
stock exchanges.[57] Its objective is the
integration of ASEAN stock exchanges so
as to compete with international exchanges.
Development gap[edit]
ASEAN members by
Human Development Index[58]:160162
Country HDI (2013)
Singapore 0.901 very high
Brunei 0.852 very high
 Malaysia 0.773 high
Thailand 0.722 high
Indonesia 0.684 medium
ASEAN 0.669 medium
Philippines 0.660 medium
Vietnam 0.638 medium
Cambodia 0.584 medium
Laos 0.569 medium
Myanmar 0.524 low
When Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and
Cambodia joined ASEAN in the late 1990s,
concerns were raised about a gap in
average per capita GDP between older and
newer members. In response, the Initiative
for ASEAN Integration (IAI) was formed by
ASEAN as a regional integration policy with
the goal of bridging this developmental
divide, which, in addition to disparities
in per capita GDP, is manifested by
disparities in dimensions of human
development such as life
expectancy and literacy rates. Other than
the IAI, other programmes for the
development of the Mekong Basinwhere
all four newer ASEAN members are
locatedthat tend to focus
on infrastructure development were
enacted. In general, ASEAN (with the
notable exception of Singapore)[citation
needed]
does not have the financial resources
to extend substantial grants or loans to the
new members. Therefore, it usually leaves
the financing of these infrastructure projects
to international financial institutions and
to developed countries. Nevertheless, it
mobilised funding from these institutions
and countries and from the ASEAN-6
(Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei
Darussalam, Singapore, and Thailand)
themselves for areas where the
development gap needs to be bridged
through the IAI programme. Other
programmes intended for the development
of the ASEAN-4 take advantage of the
geographical proximity of the CLMV
(Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam)
countries and tend to focus on
infrastructure development in areas
like transport, tourism, and power
transmission.[59]
Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP)[edit]
RCEP consists of all ten ASEAN countries
plus six countries (China, Japan, South
Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand) which
have trade agreement with ASEAN
countries. RCEP covers 45% of world
population and about a third of world's total
GDP. For example, New Zealand exports
about 60% of its exports to RCEP
countries. RCEP is extension of ASEAN
plus three and then ASEAN plus six.[60][61][62]
Monetary union[edit]
The concept of an Asian Currency Unit
(ACU) started in the middle of the nineties,
prior to the Asian currency meltdown.[63] It is
a proposed basket of Asian currencies,
similar to the European Currency Unit,
which was the precursor of the Euro. The
Asian Development Bank is responsible for
exploring the feasibility and construction of
the basket.[63][64]
Since the ACU is being considered to be a
precursor to a common currency in the
future, it has a dynamic outlook of the
region.[65] The overall goal of a common
currency is to contribute to the financial
stability of a regional economy, including
price stability. It means lower cost of cross-
border business through the elimination of
currency risk for the members of the
monetary union. Greater flows of intra-
regional trade would put pressure on prices,
resulting in cheaper goods and services.
Individuals benefit not only from the
lowering of prices, they also make savings
by not having to change money when
travelling within the union, by being able to
compare prices more readily, and by the
reduced cost of transferring money across
borders. However, there are conditions for
a common currency: the intensity of intra-
regional trade and the convergence of
macroeconomic conditions. Substantial
intra-ASEAN trade and economic
integration is an incentive for a monetary
union. Intra-ASEAN trade is growing, partly
as a result of the ASEAN Free Trade Area
(AFTA) and the ASEAN Economic
Community.
However some obstacles remain. ASEAN
currently trades more with other countries
(80%) than among its member countries
(20%). Therefore, ASEAN economies are
more concerned about currency stability
against major international currencies, like
the US dollar. On macroeconomic
conditions, ASEAN member countries have
different levels of economic development,
capacity and priorities that translate into
different levels of interest and readiness.
Monetary integration however implies less
control over national monetary and fiscal
policy to stimulate the economy. Therefore,
greater convergence in macroeconomic
conditions is being enacted to improve
conditions and confidence in a common
currency.[66] On the other hand, there are
also constraints on the adoption of one
currency, such as, diversity in the level of
economic development across countries,
weaknesses in the financial sectors of
many countries, inadequacy of regional-
level resource pooling mechanisms and
institutions required for forming and
managing a currency union, and lack of
political preconditions for monetary co-
operation and a common currency.[67]
Free-trade agreements[edit]
ASEAN has concluded free trade
agreements with China (expecting bilateral
trade of $500 billion by 2015),[68] Korea,
Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and
India.[69] ASEAN-India bilateral trade
crossed the US$70 billion target in 2012
(target was to reach the level only by
2015).[citation needed] The agreement with
People's Republic of China created
theASEANChina Free Trade
Area (ACFTA), which went into full effect on
1 January 2010. In addition, ASEAN is
currently negotiating a free trade agreement
with the European Union.[69] Republic of
China (Taiwan) has also expressed interest
in an agreement with ASEAN but needs to
overcome diplomatic objections from
China.[70]
From CMI to AMRO[edit]
Due to the Asian financial crisis of 1997 to
1998 and long and difficult negotiations with
the International Monetary Fund, ASEAN+3
agreed to set up a mainly bilateral currency
swap scheme known as the 2000 Chiang
Mai Initiative (CMI) in anticipation of
another financial crisis in the future. In 2006
they agreed to meld the CMI with
multilateralisation and call it CMIM. On 3
May 2009, they agreed to make a currency
pool consisting of contributions:
US$38.4 billion each by China and Japan,
US$19.2 billion by South Korea and
US$24 billion from all ASEAN members,
totalling US$120 billion.[71] A key
component has also newly been added,
with the establishment of a surveillance
unit.[72]
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic and
Research Office (AMRO) started its
operation in Singapore in May 2011.[73] It
performs a key regional surveillance
function of the US$120 billion Chiang
Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM)
currency swap facility.[74]
Some analysts think that the sum of
US$120 billion is relatively small (covering
only about 20% of needs), so co-ordination
or help from the IMF is still needed.[75] On 3
May 2012 ASEAN+3 finance ministers
agreed to double emergency reserve fund
to US$240 billion.[76]
Single aviation market[edit]
The ASEAN Single Aviation
Market (ASEAN-SAM), is the region's
aviation policy geared towards the
development of a unified and single aviation
market in Southeast Asia. The aviation
policy was proposed by the ASEAN Air
Transport Working Group, supported by the
ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting,
and endorsed by the ASEAN Transport
Ministers.[77] The ASEAN-SAM is expected
to liberalise air travel between member-
states in the ASEAN region, allowing
ASEAN airlines to directly benefit from the
growth in air travel, and also free up
tourism, trade, investment, and service
flows between member states.[77][78] Since 1
December 2008, restrictions on the third
and fourth freedoms of the air between
capital cities of member states for air
passengers services have been
removed,[79] while from 1 January 2009, full
liberalisation of air freight services in the
region took effect.[77][78] On 1 January 2011,
full liberalisation on fifth freedom traffic
rights between all capital cities took
effect.[80] The ASEAN Single Aviation
Market policy supersedes existing
unilateral, bilateral and multilateral air
services agreements among member states
which are inconsistent with its provisions.
Tourism[edit]
With the institutionalisation of visa-free
travel between ASEAN member states,
intra-ASEAN travel has boomed, a sign that
endeavours to form an ASEAN community
may bear fruit in years to come. In 2010,
47% or 34 million out of 73 million tourists
in ASEAN member-states were from other
ASEAN countries.[81]
ASEAN co-operation in tourism was
formalised in 1976, following formation of
Sub-Committee on Tourism (SCOT) under
the ASEAN Committee on Trade and
Tourism. The 1st ASEAN Tourism Forum
was held on 1826 October 1981 in Kuala
Lumpur. In 1986, ASEAN Promotional
Chapters for Tourism (APCT) were
established in Hong Kong, West Germany,
UK, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, and
North America.[82]
Tourism has been one of the key growth
sectors in ASEAN and has proven resilient
amid economic challenges globally. The
wide array of tourist attractions across the
region drew 81 million tourists to ASEAN in
2011, up by 30% compared to 62 million
tourists in 2007. As of 2012, tourism was
estimated to account for 4.6% of ASEAN
GDP10.9% when taking into account all
indirect contributions. It directly employed
9.3 million people, or 3.2% of total
employment, and indirectly supported some
25 million jobs.[83] In addition, the sector
accounted for an estimated 8% of total
capital investment in the region.[84]
On January 2012, ASEAN tourism ministers
called for the development of a marketing
strategy. The strategy represents the
consensus of ASEAN National Tourism
Organisations (NTOs) on marketing
directions for ASEAN moving forward to
2015.[85]
In the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness
Index (TTCI) 2013 report, Singapore placed
1st, Malaysia placed 8th, Thailand placed
9th, Indonesia placed 12th, Brunei placed
13th, Vietnam placed 16th, Philippines
placed 17th, and Cambodia placed 20th as
the top destinations of travellers in the Asia
Pacific region.[86]
Foreign affairs and summits[edit]
ASEAN members' flags in Jakarta

Royal Thai Embassy, Helsinki, flying its

own national flag as well as ASEAN's flag
A billboard in Jakarta welcoming delegates
for the 2011 ASEAN Summit
ASEAN identity[edit]
ASEAN's planned integration of its ten
member nations has challenged its citizens
to embrace a regional identity. The call for
ASEAN identity delivers a challenge to
construct dynamic institutions and foster
sufficient amounts of social capital. The
underlying assumption is that the creation
of a regional identity is of special interest to
ASEAN and the intent of the 2020 Vision
policy document was to reassert the belief
in a regional framework designed as an
action plan related to human development
and civic empowerment. Accordingly, these
assumptions will be the basis for
recommendations and strategies in
developing a participatory regional
identity.[87]
ASEAN summits[edit]
The organisation holds meetings, known
as ASEAN Summits, where heads of
government of each member meet to
discuss and resolve regional issues, as well
as to conduct other meetings with countries
outside the bloc to promote external
relations.
The first ASEAN summit was held in Bali in
1976. Its third meeting was in Manila in
1987 and during this meeting, it was
decided that the leaders would meet every
five years.[88] The fourth meeting was held
in Singapore in 1992 where the leaders
decided to meet more frequently, every
three years.[88] In 2001, it was decided to
meet annually to address urgent issues
affecting the region. Member nations were
assigned to be the summit host in
alphabetical order except in the case
of Burma which dropped its 2006 hosting
rights in 2004 due to pressure from
the United States and the European
Union.[89]
In December 2008, the ASEAN Charter
came into force and with it, the ASEAN
Summit will be held twice a year.
The formal summit meets for three days.
The typical agenda is as follows:
Leaders of member states would hold an
internal organisation meeting.
Leaders of member states hold a
conference together with foreign ministers
of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
A meeting, known as ASEAN Plus Three,
is set for leaders of three dialogue
 partners (People's Republic of
China, Japan, South Korea)
A separate meeting, known as ASEAN-
CER, is with the two dialogue partners
(Australia and New Zealand).[citation needed]
ASEAN Formal Summits

Host
No. Date Country Host
leader

2324
Indonesi
1st Feb Bali Suharto
a
1976

45
Kuala Hussein
2nd Aug Malaysia
Lumpur Onn
1977

1415
Philippin Corazon
3rd Dec Manila
es Aquino
1987
 2729
Singapor Singapo Goh Chok
4th Jan
e re Tong
1992

1415
Bangko Banharn
5th Dec Thailand
k Silpa-archa
1995

1516
Phan Vn
6th Dec Vietnam Hanoi
Khi
1998

Bandar
56
Seri Hassanal
7th Nov Brunei
Begawa Bolkiah
2001
n

45
Cambodi Phnom
8th Nov Hun Sen
a Penh
2002
 78 Megawati
Indonesi
9th Oct Bali Soekarnop
a
2003 utri

2930
10t Vientia Bounnhang
Nov Laos
h ne Vorachith
2004

1214 Abdullah
11t Kuala
Dec Malaysia Ahmad
h Lumpur
2005 Badawi

1114 Gloria
12t Philippin
Jan 2 Cebu Macapagal-
h es
20071 Arroyo

1822
13t Singapor Singapo Lee Hsien
Nov
h e re Loong
2007

14t 27 Cha Abhisit

Thailand
h3 Feb1 Am, Hu Vejjajiva
 Mar a Hin
2009 Pattaya
1011
April
2009

23
Cha
15t Octob
Thailand Am, Hu
h er
a Hin
2009

89
16t
Apr Vietnam Hanoi
h3
2010
Nguyn
Tn Dng
2831
17t
Oct Vietnam Hanoi
h
2010

78 Susilo
18t Indonesi
May Jakarta Bambang
h4 a
2011 Yudhoyono
 1419
19t Indonesi
Nov Bali
h4 a
2011

34
20t Cambodi Phnom
Apr
h a Penh
2012
Hun Sen
1720
Cambodi Phnom
21st Nov
a Penh
2012

Bandar
2425
22n Seri
Apr Brunei
d Begawa
2013
n
Hassanal
Bolkiah
Bandar
910
23r Seri
Oct Brunei
d Begawa
2013
n
 1011
24t Myanma Nay Pyi
May
h r Taw
2014
Thein Sein
1012
25t Myanma Nay Pyi
Nov
h r Taw
2014

2627
26t Langka Najib Tun
Apr Malaysia
h wi Razak
2015

1
Postponed from 1014 December 2006 due
to Typhoon Utor.

2
hosted the summit because Burma backed out
due to enormous pressure from US and EU

3
This summit consisted of two parts.
The first part was moved from 1217
December 2008 due to the 2008 Thai political
crisis.
The second part was aborted on 11 April due to
protesters entering the summit venue.

4
Indonesia hosted twice in a row by
swapping years with Brunei, as it will play
host to APEC (and the possibility of hosting
the G20summit which ultimately fell to Russia)
in 2013.

During the fifth summit in Bangkok, the

leaders decided to meet "informally"
between each formal summit.[88]

[show]ASEAN Informal Summits

East Asia Summit[edit]
Main article: East Asia Summit

Participants of the East Asia Summit

ASEAN
ASEAN Plus Three
 ASEAN Plus Six
Observer
The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a pan-Asian
forum held annually by the leaders of 18
countries in the East Asian region, with
ASEAN in a leadership position.
Membership was initially all 10 members of
ASEAN plus China, Japan, South Korea,
India, Australia, and New Zealand, but
expanded to include the United States and
Russia at the Sixth EAS in 2011.
The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur
on 14 December 2005 and subsequent
meetings have been held after the annual
ASEAN Leaders' Meeting. The summit has
discussed issues including trade, energy
and security and the summit has a role
in regional community building.

[show]East Asia Summits

Commemorative summit[edit]
Main article: ASEAN Free Trade Area
A commemorative summit is a summit
hosted by a non-ASEAN country to mark a
milestone anniversary of the establishment
of relations between ASEAN and the host
country. The host country invites the heads
of government of ASEAN member countries
to discuss future co-operation and
partnership.

[show]Commemorative Summits
Regional Forum[edit]

ASEAN full members

ASEAN observers
ASEAN candidate members
ASEAN Plus Three
East Asia Summit
ASEAN Regional Forum
The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a
formal, official, multilateral dialogue in Asia
Pacific region. As of July 2007, it consists of
27 participants. ARF objectives are to foster
dialogue and consultation, and promote
confidence-building and preventive
diplomacy in the region.[94] The ARF met for
the first time in 1994. The current
participants in the ARF are as follows: all
the ASEAN members, Australia,
Bangladesh, Canada, the People's
Republic of China, the European Union,
India, Japan, North Korea, South Korea,
Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua
New Guinea, Russia, East Timor, United
States and Sri Lanka.[95]
The Republic of China (also known
as Taiwan) has been excluded since the
establishment of the ARF, and issues
regarding the Taiwan Strait are neither
discussed at the ARF meetings nor stated
in the ARF Chairman's Statements.
Other meetings[edit]
Aside from the ones above, other regular
meetings are also held.[11] These include
the annual ASEAN Ministerial Meeting[96] as
well as other smaller
committees.[97] Meetings mostly focus on
specific topics, such as defence or
the environment,[98] and are attended
by ministers, instead of heads of
government.
The ASEAN Plus Three is a meeting
between ASEAN, China, Japan, and
South Korea, and is primarily held during
each ASEAN Summit. Until now China,
Japan and South Korea have not yet
formed Free Trade Area (FTA), the
meeting about FTA among them will be
held at end of 2012.[99]
The AsiaEurope Meeting (ASEM) is an
informal dialogue process initiated in 1996
with the intention of strengthening co-
operation between the countries of
Europe and Asia, especially members of
 the European Union and ASEAN in
particular.[100] ASEAN, represented by its
Secretariat, is one of the 45 ASEM
partners. It also appoints a representative
to sit on the governing board of Asia-
Europe Foundation (ASEF), a socio-
cultural organisation associated with the
meeting.
The ASEANRussia Summit is an
annual meeting between leaders of
member states and the President of
Russia.
Mass media[edit]
ASEAN Ministers Responsible for
Information (AMRI)[edit]
ASEAN member states promote co-
operation in information to help build an
ASEAN identity. One of the main bodies in
ASEAN co-operation in information is the
ASEAN Committee on Culture and
Information (COCI). Established in 1978, its
mission is to promote effective co-operation
in the fields of information, as well as
culture, through its various projects and
activities. The COCI includes
representatives from national institutions
like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ministries of Culture and Information,
national radio and television networks,
museums, archives and libraries, among
others. Together, they meet once a year to
formulate and agree on projects to fulfil
their mission.[101]
ASEAN Media Cooperation[edit]
ASEAN Media Cooperation (AMC) sets
digital television standards and policies in
preparation for broadcasters to transition
from analogue to digital broadcasting. This
collaboration was conceptualised during the
11th ASEAN Ministers Responsible for
Information (AMRI) Conference in Malaysia
on 1 March 2012 where a consensus
declared that both new and traditional
media were keys to connecting ASEAN
peoples and bridging cultural gaps in the
region.[102]
Several key initiatives under the AMC
include:[103]
The ASEAN Media Portal[104] was
launched 16 November 2007. The portal
aims to provide a one-stop site that
contains documentaries, games, music
videos, and multimedia clips on the
culture, arts, and heritage of the ASEAN
countries to showcase ASEAN culture
and the capabilities of its media industry.
The ASEAN NewsMaker Project, an
initiative launched in 2009, trains students
and teachers to produce informational
video clips about their countries. The
project was initiated by Singapore.
Students trained in NewsMaker software,
video production, together with
developing narrative storytelling skills. Dr
Soeung Rathchavy, Deputy Secretary-
General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-
 Cultural Community noted that, "Raising
ASEAN awareness amongst the youth is
part and parcel of our efforts to build the
ASEAN Community by 2015. Using ICT
and the media, our youths in the region
will get to know ASEAN better, deepening
their understanding and appreciation of
the cultures, social traditions and values
in ASEAN."[105]
The ASEAN Digital Broadcasting Meeting,
an annual forum for ASEAN members to
set digital television (DTV) standards and
policies and to discuss progress in the
implementation of the blueprint from
analogue to digital TV broadcasting by
2020. During the 11th ASEAN Digital
Broadcasting Meeting[106] members
updated the status on DTV
implementation and agreed to inform
ASEAN members on the Guidelines for
ASEAN Digital Switchover.[107] An issue
was raised on the availability and
 affordability of set top boxes (STB), thus
ASEAN members were asked to make
policies to determine funding for STBs,
methods of allocation, subsidies and
rebates and other methods for the
allocation of STBs. It was also agreed in
the meeting to form a task force to
develop STB specifications for DVB-T2 to
ensure efficiency.
ASEAN Integration 2015[edit]
For nearly two decades, the ASEAN was
composed of only five countries, its 8
August 1967
founders: Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Other
southeast Asian countries joined in different
times: Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos
and Myanmar (1997),
and Cambodia (1999).
Beginning in 1997, heads of each member
states adopted the ASEAN Vision 2020
during ASEAN's 30th anniversary held
in Kuala Lumpur. This vision, as a means
for the realisation of a single ASEAN
community, sees Southeast Asia to become
a concert of nations which are "outward
looking, living in peace, stability and
propsperity."[108] Included were provisions
on peace and stability, being nuclear-free,
closer economic integration, human
development, sustainable development,
cultural heritage, being drug-free,
environment, among others. The Vision
also aimed to "see an outward-looking
ASEAN playing a pivotal role in the
international fora, and advancing ASEAN's
common interests."[109] Such vision was
formalised and made comprehensive
through the Bali Concord II in 2003. Three
major pillars of a single ASEAN community
were originally established: (1) ASEAN
Security Community, (2) ASEAN Economic
Community and (3) ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community.[110] The ASEAN Community,
initially planned to commence by 2020, was
accelerated to be achieved by 2015. This
was decided upon by heads of member
states during last 2007 during the 12th
ASEAN Summit in Cebu.[111]
On 20 November 2007, the ASEAN Charter
was signed in Singapore, 40 years after the
founding of ASEAN. Also concurrently
signed was the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) Blueprint. This was to
establish the region with stronger rules-
based norms and values shared among all
member states. The charter was later
ratified in 2008.[112] To full embody the three
Bali Concord II pillars as part of the 2015
integration, blueprints for ASEAN Political-
Security Community (APSC) and ASEAN
Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) were
subsequently adopted in 2009 in Cha-Am,
Thailand.[113]
ASEAN Economic Community
Blueprint[edit]
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is
now often referred to as "AEC 2015" since
its original implementation date was
brought forward from 2020 to 31 December
2015. As one of the three pillars of the
ASEAN, it aims to "implement economic
integration initiatives" to create a single
market across ASEAN nations. On 20
November 2007, during the 13th ASEAN
Summit in Singapore, its blueprint, which
serves as a master plan guiding the
establishment of the ASEAN Economic
Community 2015, was adopted.[114]
The ASEAN Economic Community is the
goal of regional economic integration by
2015. Its characteristics include: (1) a single
market and production base, (2) a highly
competitive economic region, (3) a region of
fair economic development, and (4) a
region fully integrated into the global
economy. The areas of co-operation
include human resources development;
recognition of professional qualifications;
closer consultation on macroeconomic and
financial policies; trade financing measures;
enhanced infrastructure and
communications connectivity; development
of electronic transactions through e-
ASEAN; integrating industries across the
region to promote regional sourcing; and
enhancing private sector involvement.
Through the free movement of skilled
labour, goods, services and investment,
ASEAN will rise globally as one market with
each member gaining from each other's
strengths, thus increasing its
competitiveness and opportunities for
development.[115]
The AEC is the embodiment of the
ASEAN's vision of "...a stable, prosperous
and highly competitive ASEAN economic
region in which there is a free flow of
goods, services, investment and a freer
flow of capital, equitable economic
development and reduced poverty and
socio-economic disparities.[116]
The formulation of an AEC Blueprint
established the members' commitment to a
common goal as well as ensuring
compliance with stated objectives and
timelines. The AEC Blueprint lays out the
overall vision as well as the goals,
implementing plans and strategies (actions)
as well as the strategic schedule (timeline)
for achieving the establishment of the AEC
by end-2015.[116]
ASEAN will officially declare the
establishment of an ASEAN Economic
Community by end-December 2015. For
ASEAN economies and citizens, it will be
business as usual because the key
agreements and regulations that will govern
the business and economic relationships
under the AEC are already in place and
operational.[116]
Reinforcing ASEAN relations[edit]
The conduct of the 2nd BIMP-EAGA and
IMT-GT Trade Fair and Business Leaders
Conference on 2226 October 2014 in
Davao City, Philippines, signified the
renewed commitment of the four member
countries namely, Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia, and Philippines (BIMP) to further
the cause of the East ASEAN Growth Area
(EAGA) co-operation as a model for the
2015 ASEAN Integration. In the
Conference, Deputy Secretary General of
ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic
Community, Dr. Lim Hong Hin, said that the
convergence of the BIMP-EAGA and
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth
Triangle (IMT-GT) will amplify the
subregions full potential and maximise its
initial gain towards greater engagement in
the larger ASEAN community. The vision of
the BIMP-EAGA initiative is to realise
socially acceptable and sustainable
economic development and the full
participation of the sub region in the
ASEAN development process. BIMP-EAGA
was proposed in 1992 by then Philippine
President Fidel V. Ramos as a major
economic initiative in ASEAN. The idea of
expanding the economic co-operation
among the border areas of Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the
Philippines was supported by the leaders of
the three countries which eventually led to
the creation of BIMP-EAGA launched on 24
March 1994 in Davao City, Mindanao,
Philippines. The subregion covers a land-
area of 1.54 million square kilometres and a
population of 70 million.[117]
The improved regional-subregional
collaborations will spur trade, investment
and SME development through enhanced
backward linkages, production system and
forward linkages. The convergence will also
facilitate the completion of region wide
infrastructure projects such as the Sumatra
Port Development, Melaka-Pekan Baru
Power Interconnection and Sumatra Toll
Roads Project. The subregions
convergence will create synergy in
transport facilitation by forging Greater
Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross Border
Trade Arrangement and BIMP-EAGA Cross
Border Arrangement. Promote clustering
and branding through collaborative tourism
promotion, tailored agro-based industries
strategies and addressing environmental
issues. The greater co-ordination among
the subregions, maximising synergy with
the full participation of the stakeholders will
ensure equitable economic benefits of the
ASEAN countries facing the challenge of
globalisation.[118]
2020 ASEAN Banking Integration
Framework[edit]
As the flow of goods, services, investment,
capital and skilled labour between countries
are liberalised with the ASEAN Economic
Integration in 2015, the need arises for
ASEAN banking institutions to
accommodate and expand its services to a
greater intra-ASEAN market. While the
ASEAN financial integration isnt going to
take effect until 2020, experts from the
financial services industry have already
forecast a shaky economic transition,
especially for smaller players in the banking
and financial services industry.
Two separate reports by Standard &
Poor's entitled "Asean Financial Integration:
The Long Road to Bank Consolidation" and
"The Philippines Banking System: The
Good, the Bad and the Ambivalent."
respectively, outlined the challenges
ASEAN financial institutions are facing as
they prepare for the 2020 banking
integration. The Philippines, with its
overcrowded banking sector for example is
among the ASEAN-member countries who
are forecast to feel the most pressure as
the integration welcomes tighter
competition with the entry of bigger, more
established foreign banks.[119] To lessen the
impact of this consolidation, countries with
banking sectors considered smaller by
global standards must expand regionally.
S&P in a follow up report recently cited the
Philippines for "shoring up its network
bases and building up capital ahead of the
banking integration playing defence and
strengthening their domestic networks.[119]
Roadmap for ASEAN financial
integration[edit]
The Roadmap for the Integration of ASEAN
in Finance is the latest regional initiative,
which aims to strengthen regional self-help
and support mechanisms. The
implementation of the roadmap will
contribute to the realisation of the ASEAN
Economic Community that was launched by
the ASEAN leaders in October 2003 in Bali.
The AEC is the end-goal of economic
integration as outlined in the ASEAN Vision
2020 and the Bali Concord II to establish a
single market and production base,
characterised by the free movement of
goods, services, investment, and a freer
flow of capital. The AEC will also facilitate
the movement of businessmen, skilled
labour, and talent within the region. As in
the EU, adoption of an ASEAN common
currency when the conditions are ripe could
be the final stage of the ASEAN Economic
Community. Under the roadmap,
approaches and milestones have been
identified in areas deemed crucial to
financial and monetary integration, namely
(a) capital market development, (b) capital
account liberalisation, (c) financial services
liberalisation, and (d) ASEAN currency co-
operation. Capital market development
entails promoting institutional capacity,
including the legal and regulatory
framework, as well as the facilitation of
greater cross-border collaboration, linkages
and harmonisation between capital markets
in the region. Orderly capital account
liberalisation will be promoted with
adequate safeguards against volatility and
systemic risks. To expedite the process of
financial services liberalisation, ASEAN has
agreed on a positive list modality and
adopted milestones to facilitate
negotiations. Currency co-operation would
involve exploration of possible currency
arrangements, including an ASEAN
currency payment system for trade in local
goods to reduce the demand for US dollars
and help promote stability of regional
currencies, such as by settling intra-ASEAN
trade using regional currencies.[66]
While in the offing of an ASEAN common
currency, the leaders of the members-
states of ASEAN in November 1999 agreed
to create the establishment of currency
swaps and repurchase agreements as a
credit line against future financial shocks. In
May 2000, the finance minister of the
ASEAN agreed through the "Chiang Mai
Initiative" to plan for closer monetary and
financial co-operation.[120] The "Chiang Mai
Initiative" or CMI, named after the City of
Chiang Mai in Thailand, has two
components: an expanded ASEAN Swap
Arrangement and a network of bilateral
swap arrangements among ASEAN
countries, China, Japan, and the Republic
of Korea. The ASEAN Swap Arrangement
or ASA preceded the regional financial
crisis. ASA was originally established by the
ASEAN central bank and monetary
authorities of the five founding members of
ASEAN with a view to help countries meet
temporary liquidity problems. An expanded
ASA now includes all ten ASEAN countries
with an expanded facility of US$1 billion. In
recognition of the economic
interdependence of East Asia, which has a
combined foreign exchange reserves
amounting to about US$1 trillion, a network
of bilateral swap arrangements and
repurchase agreements among ASEAN
countries, China, Japan and the Republic of
Korea has been agreed upon. The
supplementary facility aims to provide
temporary financing for members which
may be in balance-of-payments difficulties.
In 200, 16 bilateral swap arrangements
(BSAs) have been successfully concluded
with a combined amount of about US$35.5
billion.[121] The original CMI was signed on 9
December 2009 which took effect on 20
March 2014, while the amended version,
the multilateralisation of CMI (CMIM), was
on 17 July 2014. CMIM is a multilateral
currency swap arrangement with the total
size of US$240 billion, governed by a single
contractual agreement, while the CMI is a
network of bilateral swap arrangements
among the "Plus Three" and ASEAN
countries authorities. In addition, an
independent regional surveillance unit
called the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic
Research Office (AMRO) was established
to monitor and analyse regional economies
and support the CMIM decision-making
process.[121] The amendments will
effectively allow access of the ASEAN+3
member countries and Hong Kong to an
enhanced CMIM package, which includes,
among others the doubling of the fund size
from US$120 billion to US$240 billion, an
increase in the level of access not linked to
an International Monetary Fund program
from 2030% and the introduction of a
crisis prevention facility. These
amendments are expected to fortify CMIM
as the region's financial safety net in the
event of any potential or actual liquidity
difficulty.[122]
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research
Office (AMRO) will serve as the
independent regional surveillance unit of
the CMIM. The establishment of AMRO will
ensure timely monitoring and analysis of
the ASEAN+3 economies, which will in turn
aid in the early detection of risks, swift
implementation of remedial actions, and
effective decision-making of the CMIM. In
particular, the AMRO will, during peace
time, conduct annual consultations with
individual member economies and on this
basis, prepare quarterly consolidated
reports on the macroeconomic assessment
of the ASEAN+3 region and individual
member countries. On the other hand, the
AMRO will, during crisis time, prepare
recommendations on any swap request
based on its macroeconomic analysis of the
swap requesting member and monitor the
use and impact of funds once any swap
request is approved. AMRO was officially
incorporated as a company limited by
guarantee in Singapore on 20 April 2011
and its office is at the Monetary Authority of
Singapore complex in Singapore.
Governance of AMRO is being exercised by
the Executive Committee (EC) and its
operational direction by the Advisory Panel
(AP). AMRO is currently headed by Dr
Yoichi Nemoto of Japan, who is serving his
second 2-year term until 26 May
2016.[121] Stability in the financial system is
a precondition to maintain the momentum
of ASEAN economic integration. In turn, the
more ASEAN economies become
integrated, the more feasible it is to adopt
an ASEAN single currency, which is
expected to reinforce even further stability
and integration in Southeast Asia.[66]
Food security[edit]
ASEAN member nations recognise the
importance of strengthening food security to
maintain stability and prosperity in the
region. The World Food Summit of 1996
defined food security as existing "when all
people at all times have access to
sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a
healthy and active life".[123]
Part of the aim for ASEAN integration is
collectively achieve food security via trade
in rice and maize. Trade facilitation
measures and the
harmonisation/equivalency of food
regulation and control standards will reduce
the cost of trade in food products. While
specialisation and revealed comparative
and competitive indices point to
complementarities between trade patterns
among the ASEAN member countries,
intra-ASEAN trade in agriculture is quite
small. However, integration could address
this problem.[124] The MARKET project will
provide flexible and demand-driven support
to the ASEAN Secretariat, while bringing
more private-sector and civil-society input
into regional agriculture policy dialogue. By
building an environment that reduces
barriers to trade, ASEAN trade will
increase, thereby decreasing the risk of
another food price crisis.[125]
As ASEAN moves towards an integrated
community in 2015 and beyond, food
security should be an integral part of the
ASEAN community building agenda and
deserves more attention.[126]
Reception and Criticisms[edit]
ASEAN's integration plan has raised
concerns. In particular, meeting the 2015
deadline has been questioned. Business
and economy experts who attended the
Lippo-UPH Dialogue in Naypyidaw cited
unresolved issues relating to aviation,
agriculture, and human
resources.[127] Some panellists, among
them, Kishore Mahbubani, warned against
high expectations at the onset. He stated:
"Please do not expect a big bang event in
2015 where everything is going to happen
overnight when the ASEAN Economic
Community comes into being. We've made
progress in some areas and unfortunately
regressed in some areas.[128]
Some panellists enumerated other matters
to be dealt with for a successful launch.
Among them were the communications
issues involving the 600 million citizens
living in the region, creating a heightened
level of understanding from the business
sector, current visa arrangements, demand
for specific skills, banking connections, and
economic differences between member-
nations. Former Philippine National
Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)
Secretary General Romulo A. Virola, said in
2012 that the Philippines does not appear
to be ready to benefit from ASEAN
integration due to its "wobbly" economic
performance compared to other ASEAN
member countries. According to Virola, the
Philippines continues to lag behind in terms
of employment rate, tourism, life
expectancy, and cellular
subscriptions.[129] Nestor Tan, head of BDO
Unibank Inc., said that while some
businesses see the Asian Economic
Blueprint (AEC) as an opportunity, the
integration would be more of a threat to
local firms. Tan added that protecting the
Philippines' agricultural and financial
services sectors, as well as the labour
sector, would be necessary for the
implementation of AEC by
2015.[130] Standard & Poor's also believed
that banks in the Philippines are not yet
prepared for the tougher competition that
would result from the integration of
Southeast Asian economies. In one of its
latest publications, S&P said banks in the
country, although profitable and stable,
operate on a much smaller scale than their
counterparts in the region.[130]
The US Chamber of Commerce has
highlighted the widespread concern that the
much-anticipated AEC could not be
launched by the end-2015 deadline.[131] In
January 2014, former ASEAN Secretary-
General Rodolfo C. Severino, wrote, "while
ASEAN should not be condemned for its
members' failure to make good on their
commitments, any failure to deliver will
likely lead to a loss of credibility and could
mean that member countries fall further
behind in the global competition for export
markets and foreign direct
investment(FDI)".[132] This is not the first
time that AEC faces a probable delay. In
2012, the commencement of the AEC was
postponed to 31 December 2015 from the
original plan of 1 January 2015. Despite
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan's
firm reassurance that "[t]here will be no
more delays and that all ten ASEAN
countries will participate", even the most
fervent proponents of AEC are beginning to
worry about the increasingly diminishing
chance of delivering AEC on time as
December 2015 nears.[133]
An article published by Vietnam
News echoed some of the challenges and
opportunities that Vietnam faces in
preparation for the AEC. The article said
that the deputy head of the Import-Export
Department under the Ministry of Industry
and Trade, Tran Thanh Hai, was concerned
about the local enterprises' lack of
knowledge of the AEC. It was said that 80%
of local enterprises surveyed acknowledged
that they have little information about the
interests and challenges available for them
in the ASEAN market. The article also
stated what the general secretary of
Vietnam Steel Association, Chu Duc Khai,
said that most of the local enterprises lack
information about doing business in the
ASEAN market and that they did not have
the chance to study the ASEAN market and
have only exported small amount of steel to
ASEAN countries. Another challenge for
Vietnam, as the article cited, would be the
need to compete with other countries in the
ASEAN market to export raw products
since the country had mainly exported raw
products.[134]
The Asian Development Bank also has
doubts about Cambodia's ability to meet the
AEC deadline in 2015. The leading
economist of ADB, Jayant Menon, said that
Cambodia needs to speed up its customs
reform and to press ahead with automating
processes to reduce trade costs and
minimise the opportunities for corruption
and be ready for the implementation of its
National Single Window by 2015.[135]
ASEAN Political-Security Community
Blueprint[edit]
During the 14th ASEAN Summit held 26
February to 1 March 2009, the ASEAN
heads of state/governments adopted
the ASEAN Political-Security Community
Blueprint(APSC).[136] This document is
designed to create a robust political-
security environment within ASEAN, with
programs and activities outlined to establish
the APSC by 2015. It carries forward the
principles and purposes of the ASEAN
charter and is based on the ASEAN
Security Community Plan of Action, the
Vientiane Action Programme, and other
relevant decisions.
The APSC aims to create a community that
portrays the following characteristics: a
rules-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-looking region
in an increasingly integrated and
interdependent world.
ASEAN Defense Industry
Collaboration[edit]
The ASEAN Defense Industry Collaboration
(ADIC) was proposed at the 4th ASEAN
Defense Ministers' Meeting on 11 May 2010
in Hanoi.[137] The emergence of this concept
was triggered by the fact that majority of the
ASEAN member states are regular
importers of defence and security
equipment. One of the purposes of this
concept is to reduce defence imports from
non-ASEAN countries by half (i.e., from
US$25 billion down to US$12.5 billion a
year) and to further develop the defence
industry in the region.[138]
The concept was formally adopted during
the 5th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting
(ADMM) on 19 May 2011 in Jakarta,
Indonesia,[139] in line with the ADMM
agreement to enhance security co-
operation in the following areas: maritime
security, humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief, counter terrorism, and
military medicine. Its goal points toward
actions that will enhance security in each of
the ASEAN member state.[140][141]
Its main focus is to boost the capacity of
ASEAN industrially and technologically
consistent with the principles of flexibility,
non-binding, and voluntary participation
among ASEAN member states.[142][143] The
concept revolves around education and
capability building program to develop the
skills and capabilities of manpower, sharing
in the production of capital for defence
equipment, components, and spares and
the provision of repair and maintenance
services to address all the defence and
security needs of each country. It also aims
to develop the defence trade in the region
by encouraging ASEAN member states to
participate in the intra-ASEAN defence
trade and support trade shows and
exhibitions.[137]
ADIC aims to establish a strong defence
industry relying on the local capabilities of
each ASEAN member state, and limit
annual procurement from original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) outside
the region.[137] Countries like the USA,
Germany, Russia, France, Italy, UK, China,
South Korea, Israel, and the Netherlands
are among the major suppliers to
ASEAN.[144]
Military expenditures in ASEAN reached
US$35.5 billion in 2013 (excluding Brunei
and Myanmar), which surpassed the 2004
figure (US$14.4 billion) by 147% and is
expected to exceed US$40 billion by
2016.[145] Factors affecting the increase in
military budget are economic growth,
ageing equipment, and the plan to
strengthen the establishment of defence
industry in the region.[146]
There are challenges to the defence
collaboration effort in the ASEAN; the
unequal level of capabilities among ASEAN
member states in the field of defence
industry, and the lack of established
defence trade among them.[140] Prior to the
adoption of the ADIC concept, the status of
defence industry base in each of the
ASEAN member state was at disparate
level.[140] Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia,
and Thailand are among the top ASEAN
member states with established defence
industry base. But, even these four
countries possess different levels of
capacities, while the rest of the remaining
member states like Philippines, Lao PDR,
Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia have
yet to develop and enhance their
capabilities in this aspect.[137][140]
Of the ten ASEAN member states,
Singapore and Indonesia are among the
most competitive players in the area of
defence industry. Indonesia is the only
ASEAN member state recognised as one of
the top 100 global defence suppliers from
2010-2013.[147][148] ASEAN member states
purchase virtually no defence products from
inside ASEAN. Singapore purchases
defence products from Germany, France,
and Israel, but none from any of the ASEAN
member states. Malaysia purchased only
0.49% from ASEAN, Indonesia 0.1%, and
Thailand 8.02%.[140]
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
Blueprint[edit]
It was also during the 14th ASEAN Summit
that the governments of ASEAN adopted
the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
Blueprint (ASCC).[149] The ASCC envisions
an "ASEAN Community that is people-
centered and socially responsible with a
view to achieving enduring solidarity and
unity among the nations and peoples of
ASEAN by forging a common identity and
building a caring and sharing society which
is inclusive and harmonious where the well-
being, livelihood, and welfare of the peoples
are enhanced." Among its focus areas are
human development, social welfare and
protection, social justice and rights,
ensuring environmental sustainability,
building the ASEAN identity, and narrowing
the development gap.
The AEC Scorecard[edit]
To track the progress of the AEC, the AEC
Scorecard, a compliance tool developed
based on the EU Internal Market
Scorecard, was adopted by
ASEAN.[133] This regional economic
scorecard is the only scorecard in
effect[150] and is expected to serve as an
unbiased assessment tool to measure the
extent of integration among its members
and the economic health of the region. It is
expected to provide relevant information
about regional priorities and in this way
foster productive, inclusive and sustainable
growth. Moreover, scores create incentives
for improvement by highlighting what is
working and what is not.[151]
The AEC Scorecard is also a compliance
tool that makes it possible to monitor the
implementation of ASEAN agreements and
the achievement of milestones indicated in
the AEC Strategic Schedule. The
Scorecard outlines specific actions that
must be undertaken by ASEAN collectively
and by its member states individually to
establish an AEC by 2015.[151]
To date, two official scorecards have been
published, one in 2010[152] and the other in
2012.[153] According to the AEC Scorecard
2012, the implementation rates of AEC's
four primary objectives: (a) single market
and production base; (b) competitive
economic region; (c) equitable economic
development; and (d) integration into the
global economy were 65.9%, 67.9%,
66.7%, and 85.7%, respectively, with 187
out of 277 measures being fully
implemented by 2011.[133]
The AEC Scorecard is purely quantitative. It
only examines whether an ASEAN member
state has performed the AEC task or not.
The more "yes" answers, the higher the
score.[150]
While Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand have
eliminated 99.65% of their tariff lines,
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam
have decreased tariffs on 98.86% of their
lines to the 0-5% tariff range in 2010, and
are projected to eliminate tariffs on these
goods by 2015, with the ability to do so for
a few import duty lines until 2018.[154]
According to Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore's
Minister for Trade and Industry, ASEAN
was already the seventh largest economy in
the world and the third largest in Asia in
2013, estimated at US$2.3 trillion. A recent
study by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
has projected that five of the top 15
manufacturing locations in the world will be
in ASEAN by 2018. Furthermore, by 2050,
ASEAN is also expected to be the fourth-
largest economy in the world (after the
European Union, the US, and China).[154]
The AEC envisions the free flow of
overseas labour. However, receiving
countries may require would-be workers to
take licensing examinations in those
countries regardless of whether or not the
worker has a professional license from their
home country.[155]
Singapore is the major ASEAN destination
for skilled migrants from other ASEAN
countries, mostly from Malaysia and the
Philippines. Total employment in Singapore
doubled between 1992 and 2008 from 1.5
million to three million, and the number of
foreign workers almost tripled, from fewer
than 400,000 to almost 1.1 million. High-
skilled foreign talents (customer service,
nursing, engineering, IT) earn at least
US$2,000 a month and with a credential
(usually a college degree) receive S
Passes, employment passes, including an
EP-1 for those earning more than
US$7,000 a month, EP-2 for those earning
US$3,5007,000 a month, and EP-3 for
those earning US$2,5003,500 a month.[156]
In the recent years, Singapore has been
slowly cutting down the number of foreign
workers to challenge companies to upgrade
their hiring criteria and offer more jobs to
local residents. The International Monetary
Fund (IMF) has warned that the Singapore
policy of reducing the number of foreign
workers could retard the country's
economic growth and lower its
competitiveness.[157]
Narrowing the Development Gap[edit]
Narrowing the Development Gap (NDG) is
ASEAN's framework for addressing
disparities among and within member-
states where pockets of underdevelopment
exist. Under NDG, ASEAN has continued
co-ordinating closely with other subregional
co-operation frameworks in the region (e.g.,
BIMP-EAGA, IMT-GT, GMS, Mekong
programmes), viewing them as "equal
partners in the development of regional
production and distribution networks" in the
AEC, and as a platform to "mainstream
social development issues in developing
and implementing projects," in the context
of the ASCC.[158]
The six-year IAI Work Plans have been
developed to assist the CLMV countries as
well as ASEAN's other sub-regions to
ensure that the economic wheels of their
economies move at an accelerated pace.
IAI Work Plan I was implemented from
2002 to 2008, prior to the development of
the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community
(2009-2015). IAI Work Plan II (2009-2015)
supports the goals of the ASEAN
Community and is composed of 182
prescribed actions, which includes studies,
training programmes, and policy
implementation support conducted through
projects supported by ASEAN-6 countries,
and ASEAN's Dialogue partners and
external parties. The IAI Work Plan is
patterned after and supports the key
programme areas in the three ASEAN
Community Blueprints: ASEAN Political-
Security Community Blueprint, ASEAN
Economic Community Blueprint, and
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
Blueprint.
The IAI Task Force, composed of
representatives of the Committee of
Permanent Representatives and its working
group from all ten ASEAN member states,
is in charge of providing general advice and
policy guidelines and directions in the
design and implementation of the IAI Work
Plan. All ten ASEAN member-states are
represented in the IAI Task Force, with the
task force chaired by representatives of the
four CLMV countries. Chairmanship is
rotated annually in alphabetical order.
The ASEAN Secretariat, in particular
through the IAI and NDG Division, supports
the implementation and management of the
IAI Work Plan and coordinates activities
related to sub-regional frameworks. This
includes servicing meetings, assisting in the
formulation, implementation, monitoring and
reporting of projects, resource mobilisation
and overall operational co-ordination
among various IAI&NDG-related
stakeholders. The Division works closely
with the Dialogue Partners and international
agencies to develop strategies and
programmes to assist in promoting and
implementing IAI and NDG activities in
ASEAN.[158]
ASEAN Communication Master Plan[edit]
ASEAN foreign ministers launched the
ASEAN Communication Master Plan
(ACPM) on 11 November 2014.[159]
The ACPM provides a framework for
communicating the character, structure,
and overall vision of ASEAN and the
ASEAN community to key audiences within
the region and globally.[160] The plan seeks
to demonstrate the relevance and benefits
of the ASEAN through fact-based and
compelling communications, recognising
that the ASEAN community is unique and
different from other country integration
models.
ASEAN security blueprint[edit]
The ASEAN Convention on Counter-
Terrorism (ACCT) serves as a framework
for regional co-operation to counter,
prevent, and suppress terrorism and
deepen counter-terrorism co-operation.[161]
ACCT was signed by ASEAN leaders in
2007. The sixth ASEAN member state,
Brunei, ratified it on 28 April 2011 and on
27 May 2011, the convention came into
force. Malaysia became the tenth member
state to ratify ACCT on 11 January
2013.[161]
Environment[edit]
Haze over Borneo, 2006
Plastic waste dumping: A study based
on 2010 data concluded that five ASEAN
nations are among the top ten (of 192
countries with ocean shorelines, Laos not
among them as it is landlocked) dumpers
of plastic waste into the ocean. Indonesia
was ranked the second worst polluter; the
Philippines third; Vietnam fourth; Thailand
sixth; and Malaysia eighth.[162]
Threatened mammal
species: ASEAN nations fared poorly in
this World Bank study: Indonesia was
number one of 214 nations (1=worst,
214= best) on the world list of threatened
mammals, with 184 species under threat.
The remaining ASEAN nations were
 ranked, Malaysia, 7; Thailand, 9; Vietnam,
12; Myanmar, 14; Laos, 15; The
Philippines, 19; Cambodia, 20; Brunei, 25;
and Singapore, 93, of 214 countries.[163]
Threatened fish species: ASEAN
member-state Indonesia ranked fifth of
215 nations (1=worst, 215=best) in fish
species at risk; Thailand ranked 12; The
Philippines, 18; Malaysia, 19; Vietnam,
20; Laos, 29; Cambodia, 51; Myanmar,
52; Singapore, 84; and Brunei, 175.[164]
Threatened (higher) plant species: The
World Bank estimated in 2014 that, world-
wide, 13,583 higher plant species are
threatened. Of 215 nations, Malaysia
ranked number two of 215 (1=worst,
216=best) in number of species
threatened (133 species). Indonesia
ranked sixth; The Philippines, 16;
Vietnam, 21; Thailand, 26; Brunei, 33;
Singapore, 53; Myanmar, 59; Cambodia,
74; and Laos, 75.[165]
 Deforestation: Indonesia lost 17 million
hectares of tree cover from 2001-2013,
the fifth largest loss of 203 nations.
Malaysia ranked eighth (5 Mha loss);
Myanmar, 19 (2 Mha); Cambodia, 23 (1.5
Mha); Laos, 24 (1.4 Mha); Vietnam, 27
(1.3 Mha); Thailand, 29 (1.1 Mha); The
Philippines, 39 (664 Kha); Brunei, 117 (18
Kha); and Singapore, 155, (867 ha).[166]
At the turn of the 21st century, ASEAN
began to discuss environmental
agreements. These included the signing of
the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary
Haze Pollution in 2002 as an attempt to
control haze pollution in Southeast
Asia.[167] Unfortunately, this was
unsuccessful due to the outbreaks of
the 2005 Malaysian haze and 2006
Southeast Asian haze, 2009 Southeast
Asian haze, 2013 Southeast Asian
haze and 2015 Southeast Asian haze. As of
2015, 13 years after signing the ASEAN
Agreement on Transboundary Haze
Pollution the situation about the long term
issue Southeast Asian haze hasn't been
changed for half (50%) of
the ASEAN member states and still
reamains as a Southeast Asian haze crisis
every two years during summer and
fall. [168] [169] [170]
Yet other serious issues like trash dumping
of foreign nations to ASEAN has yet to be
discussed. In 2015, tons of trash dumped
by Canada to the pier of Manila in the
Philippines through container vans in 2013
were to be dumped in the province of
Tarlac. With the media nationalizing the
issue, the government has since filed a
diplomatic protest against Canada, of which
Canada has yet to respond.
Education[edit]
While high performing Asian
economies and the six oldest ASEAN
members have invested heavily in public
education at the primary and secondary
levels, tertiary education has been left
largely to the private sector.[171] Tertiary
education in Southeast Asia is, in general,
relatively weak in terms of technological
capacity and integration such as in credit
transfer schemes. Singapore is highly
focused on innovation while the rest of the
region lags behind.[172] In most cases
universities are focused on teaching and
service to government rather
than academic research. Universities in
Southeast Asia, both in terms of academic
salaries and research infrastructure
(libraries, laboratories), tend to be poorly
supported financially. Moreover, regional
academic journals cater to their local
audiences and respond less to international
standards which makes universal or
regionalbenchmarking difficult.[173]
Governments have a vested interest in
investing in education and other aspects
of human capital infrastructure, especially
rapidly developing nations such as those
within ASEAN. In the short run, investment
spending directly supports aggregate
demand and growth. In the longer term,
investments in physical
infrastructure, productivityenhancements,
and provision of education and health
services determine the potential for
growth.[174]
Educational integration[edit]
To enhance regional co-operation in
education, ASEAN education ministers
have agreed four priorities for education: (1)
Promoting ASEAN awareness among
ASEAN citizens, particularly youth; (2)
Strengthening ASEAN identity through
education; (3) Building ASEAN human
resources in the field of education; and (4)
Strengthening the ASEAN University
Network.[175]
At the 11th ASEAN Summit in December
2005, ASEAN leaders set new directions for
regional education collaboration when they
welcomed the decision of the ASEAN
education ministers to convene meetings
on a regular basis. The annual ASEAN
Education Ministers Meeting oversees
ASEAN co-operation efforts on education at
the ministerial level. With regard to
implementation, programmes and activities
are carried out by the ASEAN Senior
Officials on Education (SOM-ED). SOM-ED
also manages co-operation on higher
education through the ASEAN University
Network (AUN).[176]
ASEAN university network[edit]
Main article: ASEAN University Network
The ASEAN University Network (AUN) is a
consortium of Southeast Asian tertiary
institutions of which 30 currently belong as
participating universities.[177] Originally
founded in November 1995 by 11
universities within the member
states,[178] the AUN was established to:[175]
 Promote co-operation among ASEAN
scholars, academics, and scientists in the
region
Develop academic and professional

human resources in the region

Promote information dissemination

among the ASEAN academic community

Enhance awareness of a regional identity

and the sense of "ASEAN-ness" among

members
Southeast Asia Engineering Education
Development Network Project[edit]
The Southeast Asia Engineering Education
Development Network (SEED-Net) Project,
was established as an autonomous sub-
network of the ASEAN University
Network (AUN) in April 2001. SEED-Net is
aimed at promoting human resource
development in engineering in ASEAN. The
network consists of 26 member institutions
selected by higher education ministries of
each ASEAN member state and 11
supporting Japanese universities selected
by the Japanese government. This network
is mainly supported by the Japanese
government through the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) and partially
supported by the ASEAN Foundation.
SEED-Net activities are implemented by the
SEED-Net secretariat with the support of
the JICA Project for SEED-Net now based
at Chulalongkorn University.
ASEAN Scholarship[edit]
The ASEAN Scholarship is a scholarship
programme offered by Singapore to the
nine other member states for secondary
school, junior college, and university
education. It covers accommodation, food,
medical benefits and accident insurance,
school fees, and examination fees.
Scholarship recipients who then perform
well on the GCE Advanced
Level Examination may apply for ASEAN
undergraduate scholarships, which are
tailored specifically to undergraduate
institutions in Singapore and other ASEAN
member countries.[179] Singapore has
effectively used this programme to attract
many of the best students from the ASEAN
region over the past several years, and
scholars for the most part tend to remain in
Singapore to pursue undergraduate studies
through the ASEAN Undergraduate
Scholarship programme.[180]
Literacy rates[edit]
The table below shows literacy rates among
15- to 24-year-old youths from 10 ASEAN
member states as reported to the United
Nations.[181]
 Ad Yo
Ye ult uth
ar (15 A Ad (15- Yo Yo
(m +) du ult 24) ut uth
Coun
ost Lit lt Wo Lit h Wo
try
rec era M me era M me
ent cy en n cy en n
) Rat Rat
e e

Bru 200 97 100 100 100

95% 94%
nei 9 % % % %

Ca
200 85 89
mbodi 78% 71% 87% 86%
8 % %
a

Ind 200 95 100

92% 89% 99% 99%
onesia 8 % %

Lao 200 82 89
73% 63% 84% 79%
s 5 % %
 Ad Yo
Ye ult uth
ar (15 A Ad (15- Yo Yo
(m +) du ult 24) ut uth
Coun
ost Lit lt Wo Lit h Wo
try
rec era M me era M me
ent cy en n cy en n
) Rat Rat
e e

Mal 201 100 100 100 100 100 100

aysia 5 % % % % % %

My 200 95 96
92% 90% 96% 95%
anmar 9 % %

Phil
201 100 100 100 100 100 100
ippine
5 % % % % % %
s

Sin 200 97 100 100 100

95% 92%
gapore 9 % % % %
 Ad Yo
Ye ult uth
ar (15 A Ad (15- Yo Yo
(m +) du ult 24) ut uth
Coun
ost Lit lt Wo Lit h Wo
try
rec era M me era M me
ent cy en n cy en n
) Rat Rat
e e

Tha 200 96 98
94% 92% 98% 98%
iland 5 % %

Viet 200 95 97
93% 91% 97% 96%
nam 9 % %

Culture and sport[edit]

The organisation hosts cultural activities in
an attempt to further integrate the region.
These include sports and educational
activities as well as writing awards.
Examples of these include the ASEAN
Centre for Biodiversity and the ASEAN
Outstanding Scientist and Technologist
Award
Heritage parks[edit]
Main article: ASEAN Heritage Parks
ASEAN Heritage Parks aim to protect the
region's natural treasures. There are now
35 such protected areas, including
the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park and
the Kinabalu National Park.[182]
Songs and music[edit]
The ASEAN Way, the official
regional anthem of ASEAN. Music
by Kittikhun Sodprasert and Sampow
Triudom; lyrics by Payom
Valaiphatchra.
ASEAN Song of Unity or ASEAN Hymn.
Music by Ryan Cayabyab.
Let Us Move Ahead, an ASEAN song.
Composed by Candra Darusman.
ASEAN Rise, ASEAN's 40th Anniversary
song. Music by Dick Lee; lyrics
by Stefanie Sun.
ASEAN competitions[edit]

ASEAN Para Games logo

Southeast Asian Games
ASEAN University Games

ASEAN School Games

ASEAN Para Games

ASEAN Football Championship

2030 FIFA world cup bid[edit]

In January 2011 ASEAN foreign ministers
agreed to bid to host the FIFA World Cup in
2030 as a single entity.[183][184]
Criticisms of ASEAN[edit]
Critics have charged that ASEAN is too soft
in its approach to promoting human rights
and democracy, particularly in junta-led
Burma.[185] Some scholars think that the
non-interference has prevented ASEAN
efforts in handling the problem of Myanmar,
human rights abuse, and haze pollution in
the area. Despite global outrage at the
military crack-down on unarmed protesters
in Yangon, ASEAN has refused to suspend
Burma as a member and also rejects
proposals for economic sanctions.[186] This
has caused concern as the European Union
has refused to conduct free trade
negotiations at a regional level for these
political reasons.[187]
Some international observers view ASEAN
as a "talk shop",[188] stating that the
organisation is "big on words but small on
action".[189] "ASEAN policies have proven to
be mostly rhetoric, rather than actual
implementation," says Pokpong Lawansiri,
a Bangkok-based independent analyst of
ASEAN. "It has been noted that less than
50% of ASEAN agreements are actually
implemented, while ASEAN holds more
than 600 meetings annually."[190]
The head of the International Institute of
Strategic Studies Asia, Tim Huxley, cites
the diverse political systems present in the
grouping, including many young states, as
a barrier to far-reaching co-operation
outside the economic sphere. He also
asserts that in the absence of an external
threat to rally against with the end of
the Cold War, ASEAN has begun to be less
successful at restraining its members and
resolving border disputes such as those
between Burma and Thailand and that of
Indonesia and Malaysia.[191]
During the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu,
several activist groups staged anti-
globalisation protests.[192] According to the
activists, the agenda of economic
integration would negatively affect
industries in the Philippines and would
cause thousands of Filipinos to lose their
jobs.[193]
The biggest criticism ASEAN is facing is the
embroiling tensions in the South China Sea
dispute, where four of the member states
are involved, namely,
the Philippines, Vietnam,Malaysia,
and Brunei. Since the Scarborough Shoal
Standoff, where China has forcefully
occupied Scarborough Shoal which was
traditionally used by Filipinos as fishing
grounds and has been recognized by the
Philippines as part of its integral territory
since the colonial era, the Philippines has
been the most vocal against Chinese
incursions in the dispute, even bringing its
case against China in an United Nations
international tribunal in the Hague, the first
case filed by a nation against China, were
Vietnam, Japan, and most Western
countries, especially the United States have
supported greatly. Vietnam, on the other
hand, has been in the most conflict with
China since the start of the dispute, being
bordered by both land and sea with China.
The conflict focuses on the Paracel Islands,
which China as forcefully occupied in the
19th century from Vietnam, though Vietnam
also claims all the Spratly Islands. Brunei,
claiming only one reef, has been very silent
on the issue ever since it started, mostly
because of economic trade with China.
While Malaysia, a nation with deep
economic ties with China and a nation with
billions on Chinese investment standing on
a string, has remained neutral and 'China-
friendly' in the conflict despite claiming
various reefs and islands in the Sptralys
and despite China claiming most of its
territorial waters and exclusive economic
zones in Borneo.}
ASEAN has yet to be united in the face of
China's massive reclamation activities and
incursions in the South China Sea,
especially when China is heavily supported
by member states Cambodia, a traditional
Chinese ally, and Malaysia, which China
has a firm grip due to economic
ties. Myanmar and Laos have been former
'satellite nations' of China and are still
heavily influenced by China,
while Singapore's population is mostly
immigrant Chinese and Chinese
descendants. Thailand has yet to impose a
better and more concrete stand on the
issue. Of the member states, not yet
involved in the dispute, Indonesia has given
the best stand, where it supports the
diplomatic approach of
the Philippines many times. Indonesia's
exclusive economic zone in its Natuna
Islands overlaps with the so-called Nine-
Dash Line of China.
Taiwan, also a claimant, has no concrete
relations with any ASEAN states, but has
an informal office in the Philippines. With
the dispute escalating through time, instead
of slowly being resolved multilaterally, a
third World War is subject of controversy,
with Vietnam, the Philippines, China,
Taiwan, and even Japan has been building
their military powers in an alarming rate.
Despite approval of Vietnam and the
Philippines for multinational talks, China
has only accepted bilateral talks, where
China has the upper hand. With
thePhilippines-United States Defense
Treaty and a Mutual Defense Agreement
between Taiwan and The United States in
full effect, a possible war is expected to
engage the global opera once again if not
resolved at the present time, something that
ASEAN needs to resolve first through
regional unison.[194]