The Founding of ASEAN

On 8 August 1967, five leaders - the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore and Thailand - sat down together in the main hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs
building in Bangkok, Thailand and signed a document. By virtue of that document, the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was born. The five Foreign Ministers who signed
it - Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso R. Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S.
Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand - would subsequently be hailed as the
Founding Fathers of probably the most successful inter-governmental organization in the
developing world today. And the document that they signed would be known as the ASEAN
Declaration.

It was a short, simply-worded document containing just five articles. It declared the
establishment of an Association for Regional Cooperation among the Countries of Southeast Asia
to be known as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and spelled out the aims and
purposes of that Association. These aims and purposes were about cooperation in the economic,
social, cultural, technical, educational and other fields, and in the promotion of regional peace
and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the
principles of the United Nations Charter. It stipulated that the Association would be open for
participation by all States in the Southeast Asian region subscribing to its aims, principles and
purposes. It proclaimed ASEAN as representing "the collective will of the nations of Southeast
Asia to bind themselves together in friendship and cooperation and, through joint efforts and
sacrifices, secure for their peoples and for posterity the blessings of peace, freedom and
prosperity."

It was while Thailand was brokering reconciliation among Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia
over certain disputes that it dawned on the four countries that the moment for regional
cooperation had come or the future of the region would remain uncertain. Recalls one of the two
surviving protagonists of that historic process, Thanat Khoman of Thailand: "At the banquet
marking the reconciliation between the three disputants, I broached the idea of forming another
organization for regional cooperation with Adam Malik. Malik agreed without hesitation but asked
for time to talk with his government and also to normalize relations with Malaysia now that the
confrontation was over. Meanwhile, the Thai Foreign Office prepared a draft charter of the new
institution. Within a few months, everything was ready. I therefore invited the two former
members of the Association for Southeast Asia (ASA), Malaysia and the Philippines, and
Indonesia, a key member, to a meeting in Bangkok. In addition, Singapore sent S. Rajaratnam,
then Foreign Minister, to see me about joining the new set-up. Although the new organization
was planned to comprise only the ASA members plus Indonesia, Singapore's request was
favorably considered."

And so in early August 1967, the five Foreign Ministers spent four days in the relative isolation of
a beach resort in Bang Saen, a coastal town less than a hundred kilometers southeast of
Bangkok. There they negotiated over that document in a decidedly informal manner which they
would later delight in describing as "sports-shirt diplomacy." Yet it was by no means an easy
process: each man brought into the deliberations a historical and political perspective that had
no resemblance to that of any of the others. But with goodwill and good humor, as often as they
huddled at the negotiating table, they finessed their way through their differences as they lined
up their shots on the golf course and traded wisecracks on one another's game, a style of
deliberation which would eventually become the ASEAN ministerial tradition.

Now, with the rigors of negotiations and the informalities of Bang Saen behind them, with their
signatures neatly attached to the ASEAN Declaration, also known as the Bangkok Declaration, it
was time for some formalities. The first to speak was the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs,
Narciso Ramos, a one-time journalist and long-time legislator who had given up a chance to be
Speaker of the Philippine Congress to serve as one of his country's first diplomats. He was then
66 years old and his only son, the future President Fidel V. Ramos, was serving with the Philippine
Civic Action Group in embattled Vietnam. He recalled the tediousness of the negotiations that
preceded the signing of the Declaration that "truly taxed the goodwill, the imagination, the
patience and understanding of the five participating Ministers." That ASEAN was established at
all in spite of these difficulties, he said, meant that its foundations had been solidly laid. And he
impressed it on the audience of diplomats, officials and media people who had witnessed the
signing ceremony that a great sense of urgency had prompted the Ministers to go through all
that trouble. He spoke darkly of the forces that were arrayed against the survival of the countries
of Southeast Asia in those uncertain and critical times.

"The fragmented economies of Southeast Asia," he said, "(with) each country pursuing its own
limited objectives and dissipating its meager resources in the overlapping or even conflicting
endeavors of sister states carry the seeds of weakness in their incapacity for growth and their
self-perpetuating dependence on the advanced, industrial nations. ASEAN, therefore, could
marshal the still untapped potentials of this rich region through more substantial united action."

When it was his turn to speak, Adam Malik, Presidium Minister for Political Affairs and Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, recalled that about a year before, in Bangkok, at the conclusion of
the peace talks between Indonesia and Malaysia, he had explored the idea of an organization
such as ASEAN with his Malaysian and Thai counterparts. One of the "angry young men" in his
country's struggle for independence two decades earlier, Adam Malik was then 50 years old and
one of a Presidium of five led by then General Soeharto that was steering Indonesia from the
verge of economic and political chaos. He was the Presidium's point man in Indonesia's efforts to
mend fences with its neighbors in the wake of an unfortunate policy of confrontation. During the
past year, he said, the Ministers had all worked together toward the realization of the ASEAN
idea, "making haste slowly, in order to build a new association for regional cooperation."

Adam Malik went on to describe Indonesia's vision of a Southeast Asia developing into "a region
which can stand on its own feet, strong enough to defend itself against any negative influence
from outside the region." Such a vision, he stressed, was not wishful thinking, if the countries of
the region effectively cooperated with each other, considering their combined natural resources
and manpower. He referred to differences of outlook among the member countries, but those
differences, he said, would be overcome through a maximum of goodwill and understanding,
faith and realism. Hard work, patience and perseverance, he added, would also be necessary.

The countries of Southeast Asia should also be willing to take responsibility for whatever happens
to them, according to Tun Abdul Razak, the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, who spoke next. In
his speech, he conjured a vision of an ASEAN that would include all the countries of Southeast
Asia. Tun Abdul Razak was then concurrently his country's Minister of Defence and Minister of
National Development. It was a time when national survival was the overriding thrust of
Malaysia's relations with other nations and so as Minister of Defence, he was in charge of his
country's foreign affairs. He stressed that the countries of the region should recognize that
unless they assumed their common responsibility to shape their own destiny and to prevent
external intervention and interference, Southeast Asia would remain fraught with danger and
tension. And unless they took decisive and collective action to prevent the eruption of intra-
regional conflicts, the nations of Southeast Asia would remain susceptible to manipulation, one
against another.

"We the nations and peoples of Southeast Asia," Tun Abdul Razak said, "must get together and
form by ourselves a new perspective and a new framework for our region. It is important that
individually and jointly we should create a deep awareness that we cannot survive for long as
independent but isolated peoples unless we also think and act together and unless we prove by
deeds that we belong to a family of Southeast Asian nations bound together by ties of friendship
and goodwill and imbued with our own ideals and aspirations and determined to shape our own
destiny". He added that, "with the establishment of ASEAN, we have taken a firm and a bold step
on that road".
For his part, S. Rajaratnam, a former Minister of Culture of multi-cultural Singapore who, at that
time, served as its first Foreign Minister, noted that two decades of nationalist fervor had not
fulfilled the expectations of the people of Southeast Asia for better living standards. If ASEAN
would succeed, he said, then its members would have to marry national thinking with regional
thinking.

"We must now think at two levels," Rajaratnam said. "We must think not only of our national
interests but posit them against regional interests: that is a new way of thinking about our
problems. And these are two different things and sometimes they can conflict. Secondly, we
must also accept the fact, if we are really serious about it, that regional existence means painful
adjustments to those practices and thinking in our respective countries. We must make these
painful and difficult adjustments. If we are not going to do that, then regionalism remains a
utopia."

S. Rajaratnam expressed the fear, however, that ASEAN would be misunderstood. "We are not
against anything", he said, "not against anybody". And here he used a term that would have an
ominous ring even today: balkanization. In Southeast Asia, as in Europe and any part of the
world, he said, outside powers had a vested interest in the balkanization of the region. "We want
to ensure," he said, "a stable Southeast Asia, not a balkanized Southeast Asia. And those
countries who are interested, genuinely interested, in the stability of Southeast Asia, the
prosperity of Southeast Asia, and better economic and social conditions, will welcome small
countries getting together to pool their collective resources and their collective wisdom to
contribute to the peace of the world."

The goal of ASEAN, then, is to create, not to destroy. This, the Foreign Minister of Thailand,
Thanat Khoman, stressed when it was his turn to speak. At a time when the Vietnam conflict was
raging and American forces seemed forever entrenched in Indochina, he had foreseen their
eventual withdrawal from the area and had accordingly applied himself to adjusting Thailand's
foreign policy to a reality that would only become apparent more than half a decade later. He
must have had that in mind when, on that occasion, he said that the countries of Southeast Asia
had no choice but to adjust to the exigencies of the time, to move toward closer cooperation and
even integration. Elaborating on ASEAN objectives, he spoke of "building a new society that will
be responsive to the needs of our time and efficiently equipped to bring about, for the enjoyment
and the material as well as spiritual advancement of our peoples, conditions of stability and
progress. Particularly what millions of men and women in our part of the world want is to erase
the old and obsolete concept of domination and subjection of the past and replace it with the
new spirit of give and take, of equality and partnership. More than anything else, they want to be
master of their own house and to enjoy the inherent right to decide their own destiny ..."

While the nations of Southeast Asia prevent attempts to deprive them of their freedom and
sovereignty, he said, they must first free themselves from the material impediments of
ignorance, disease and hunger. Each of these nations cannot accomplish that alone, but by
joining together and cooperating with those who have the same aspirations, these objectives
become easier to attain. Then Thanat Khoman concluded: "What we have decided today is only a
small beginning of what we hope will be a long and continuous sequence of accomplishments of
which we ourselves, those who will join us later and the generations to come, can be proud. Let it
be for Southeast Asia, a potentially rich region, rich in history, in spiritual as well as material
resources and indeed for the whole ancient continent of Asia, the light of happiness and well-
being that will shine over the uncounted millions of our struggling peoples."

The Foreign Minister of Thailand closed the inaugural session of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations by presenting each of his colleagues with a memento. Inscribed on the memento
presented to the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, was the citation, "In recognition of services
rendered by His Excellency Adam Malik to the ASEAN organization, the name of which was
suggested by him."

And that was how ASEAN was conceived, given a name, and born. It had been barely 14 months
since Thanat Khoman brought up the ASEAN idea in his conversations with his Malaysian and
Indonesian colleagues. In about three more weeks, Indonesia would fully restore diplomatic
relations with Malaysia, and soon after that with Singapore. That was by no means the end to
intra-ASEAN disputes, for soon the Philippines and Malaysia would have a falling out on the issue
of sovereignty over Sabah. Many disputes between ASEAN countries persist to this day. But all
Member Countries are deeply committed to resolving their differences through peaceful means
and in the spirit of mutual accommodation. Every dispute would have its proper season but it
would not be allowed to get in the way of the task at hand. And at that time, the essential task
was to lay the framework of regional dialogue and cooperation.

The two-page Bangkok Declaration not only contains the rationale for the establishment of
ASEAN and its specific objectives. It represents the organization’s modus operandi of building on
small steps, voluntary, and informal arrangements towards more binding and institutionalized
agreements. All the founding member states and the newer members have stood fast to the
spirit of the Bangkok Declaration. Over the years, ASEAN has progressively entered into several
formal and legally-binding instruments, such as the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in
Southeast Asia and the 1995 Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone.

Against the backdrop of conflict in the then Indochina, the Founding Fathers had the foresight of
building a community of and for all Southeast Asian states. Thus the Bangkok Declaration
promulgated that “the Association is open for participation to all States in the Southeast Asian
region subscribing to the aforementioned aims, principles and purposes.” ASEAN’s inclusive
outlook has paved the way for community-building not only in Southeast Asia, but also in the
broader Asia Pacific region where several other inter-governmental organizations now co-exist.

The original ASEAN logo presented five brown sheaves of rice stalks, one for each founding
member. Beneath the sheaves is the legend "ASEAN" in blue. These are set on a field of yellow
encircled by a blue border. Brown stands for strength and stability, yellow for prosperity and blue
for the spirit of cordiality in which ASEAN affairs are conducted. When ASEAN celebrated its 30th
Anniversary in 1997, the sheaves on the logo had increased to ten - representing all ten
countries of Southeast Asia and reflecting the colors of the flags of all of them. In a very real
sense, ASEAN and Southeast Asia would then be one and the same, just as the Founding Fathers
had envisioned.

ASEAN Motto

The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.

ASEAN Chair

According to Article 31 of the ASEAN Charter, the Chairmanship of ASEAN shall rotate annually,
based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member States. A Member State
assuming the Chairmanship shall chair the ASEAN Summit and related summits, the ASEAN
Coordinating Council, the three ASEAN Community Councils, relevant ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial
Bodies and senior officials, and the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

On 9 April 2010, at the 16th ASEAN Summit in Ha Noi, however, the ten Member States of ASEAN
unanimously agreed to Indonesia’s request for a swap of ASEAN Chairmanship with Brunei
Darussalam for the year 2011. This exchange, however, is one-off and will not affect Cambodia’s
assumption of ASEAN Chairmanship in 2012.

Indonesia’s theme for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2011 is “ASEAN Community in a Global
Community of Nations”.

Secretary-General of ASEAN
The Secretary-General of ASEAN is appointed by the ASEAN Summit for a non-renewable term of
office of five years, selected from among nationals of the ASEAN Member States based on
alphabetical rotation. The Secretary-General of ASEAN

The Secretary-General of ASEAN 2008-2012 is Dr Surin Pitsuwan from Thailand.

Deputy Secretaries-General of ASEAN

The Secretary-General of ASEAN shall be assisted by four Deputy Secretaries-General (DSGs).

The four DSGs shall be of different nationalities from the Secretary-General and shall come from
four different ASEAN Member States. The DSGs shall comprise:

two DSGs are nominated by Member States on a rotational basis for a non-renewable term of
three years, and

two DSGs are openly recruited based on merit for a term of three years, which may be renewed
for another three years.

DSG of ASEAN for ASEAN Political Security Community

The DSG APSC supports SG in implementing the APSC Blueprint and strengthening relations with
ASEAN Dialogue Partners and the international community.

Click here for CV of DSG of ASEAN for APSC, H.E. Sayakane Sisouvong (date of commencement:
17 February 2009).

DSG of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community

The DSG AEC assists SG in supporting the realisation of the AEC by 2015. He oversees the
implementation of the AEC Blueprint towards the establishment of a Single Market and
Production Base, a competitive economic region characterised by equitable development, and a
region that is fully plugged into the global economy.

Click here for CV of DSG of ASEAN for AEC, H.E. S Pushpanathan (date of commencement: 1
January 2009).

DSG of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

The DSG ASCC supports SG in implementing the ASCC Blueprint. He oversees the
implementation of projects under ASCC that focus on forging a common identity and building a
caring and sharing society which is inclusive and where the well-being, livelihood and welfare of
the peoples are enhanced.

Click here for CV of DSG of ASEAN for ASCC, H.E. Dato’ Misran Karmain (date of commencement:
8 September 2009).

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs

The DSG CCA assists SG and is responsible for providing strategic direction and guidance on
research, public affairs and outreach programmes for the ASEAN Community. He is also
responsible for the implementation of corporate support functions, including core corporate
services and ensuring clear prioritisation and alignment to overall policy objectives. The DSG
CCA will ensure that ASEAN Secretariat has in place the systems, procedures and resources
required to fulfil its mandate.

ONG KENG YONG

Singapore
1 Jan 2003 to 31 Dec 2007

RODOLFO C. SEVERINO JR.

the Philippines
1 Jan 1998 to 31 Dec 2002

DATO AJIT SINGH

Malaysia 1 Jan 1993 to 31 Dec 1997

RUSLI NOOR
Indonesia 17 July 1989 to 1 Jan 1993

RODERICK YONG
Brunei Darussalam
16 July 1986 to 16 July 1989

PHAN WANNAMETHEE
Thailand
16 July 1984 to 15 July 1986

CHAN KAI YAU

Singapore
18 July 1982 to 15 July 1984

NARCISO G. REYES
The Philippines
1 July 1980 to 1 July 1982

DATUK ALI BIN ABDULLAH

Malaysia
10 July 1978 to 30 June 1980

UMARJADI NOTOWIJONO
Indonesia
19 Feb 1978 to 30 June 1978

H.R DHARSONO
Indonesia
7 June 1976 to 18 Feb 1978

GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF THE ASEAN FLAG

1. The ASEAN Flag is a symbol of Member States’ unity and support for the principles and
endeavours of ASEAN and is a means to promote greater ASEAN awareness and solidarity.
2. The ASEAN Flag represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN. The colours of the
Flag – blue, red, white and yellow – represent the main colours of the flags of all the ASEAN
Member States.

3. The blue represents peace and stability. Red depicts courage and dynamism, white shows
purity and yellow symbolises prosperity.

4. The stalks of padi in the centre of the Emblem represent the dream of ASEAN's Founding
Fathers for an ASEAN comprising all the countries in Southeast Asia, bound together in friendship
and solidarity.

5. The circle represents the unity of ASEAN.

6. The ASEAN Flag is the reserved copyright of ASEAN.

7. The specifications of the ASEAN Flag are annexed.

A. Dignity of the ASEAN Flag

8. The ASEAN Flag shall be treated with respect and shall not be subjected to any indignity.

ASEAN Emblem

Guidelines on the Use of the ASEAN Emblem

1. The ASEAN Emblem shall be the official emblem of ASEAN.

2. The ASEAN Emblem represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN. The colours of
the Emblem -- blue, red, white and yellow -- represent the main colours of the state crests of all
the ASEAN Member States.

3. The blue represents peace and stability. Red depicts courage and dynamism, white shows
purity and yellow symbolises prosperity.

4. The stalks of padi in the centre of the Emblem represent the dream of ASEAN's Founding
Fathers for an ASEAN comprising all the countries in Southeast Asia, bound together in friendship
and solidarity.

5. The circle represents the unity of ASEAN.

ASEAN Day

8 August is observed as ASEAN Day.

ASEAN Anthem

Guidelines on the Use of the ASEAN Anthem

1. The ASEAN Anthem is an expression of ASEAN unity. It also strengthens the sense of ASEAN
identity and belonging among the peoples of the region.

2. The ASEAN Anthem is titled “THE ASEAN WAY”, with musical composition and lyrics as
attached.

3. The ASEAN Anthem is under the copyright of ASEAN with the ASEAN Secretariat as the main
body to oversee its proper use.

A. Dignity of the ASEAN Anthem

4. The ASEAN Anthem shall be used in a proper and dignified manner. When the Anthem is
played, the audience shall rise.
5. The Anthem shall not be used in whole or in parts for commercial purposes or political
propaganda.

B. Use of the ASEAN Anthem

6. The use of the ASEAN Anthem is encouraged at ASEAN formal meetings and related activities,
including those with ASEAN Dialogue Partners.

7. The ASEAN Anthem may be played to commemorate special occasions of ASEAN, such as the
anniversary of ASEAN, or in efforts to promote the interests of ASEAN.

8. ASEAN Member States are encouraged to translate the ASEAN Anthem into local languages as
a way to promote the Anthem and increase ASEAN awareness within their countries.

ASEAN Name

Guidelines on the Use of the Name “ASEAN”

1. The Name “ASEAN” refers to the “Association of Southeast Asian Nations”.

2. The Name “ASEAN” is the reserved copyright of ASEAN.

A. Use of the Name “ASEAN”

3. The Name “ASEAN” shall be used in a manner that promotes ASEAN and its purposes and
principles. It shall not be used for political propaganda or for activities that harm the dignity of
ASEAN.

B. Enquiries and Requests for the Use of the Name “ASEAN”

4. Enquiries and requests for the use of the name “ASEAN” shall be submitted in writing, and
accompanied with the following information:

• organisational profile; and

• purpose for the proposed use of the name “ASEAN”.

5. Such request should satisfy the following conditions:

• The entity should be indigenous to ASEAN;

• The usage of the name “ASEAN” should not have any negative effect on

the aims and objectives of ASEAN;

• The name “ASEAN” should not be brought into disrepute by its usage; and

• The use of the name “ASEAN” shall be in support of ASEAN purposes and principles.

6. The ASEAN Secretariat shall consider the requests accordingly. The approval granted shall be
exclusive to the proposed activity. Such approval shall not be extended to third parties.

7. Authorisation to use the name “ASEAN” does not confer on those to whom it is granted any
right of exclusive use, nor does it allow them to appropriate the name “ASEAN” or any similar
trade name, either by registration or any other means.

MEMBER COUNTRIES

Brunei Darussalam

Head of State : His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah
Capital : Bandar Seri Begawan
Language(s) : Malay, English
Currency : B$ (Brunei Dollar)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Brunei Darussalam Website: www.mfa.gov.bn

Cambodia

Head of State : His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni

Head of Government : Prime Minister Hun Sen
Capital : Phnom Penh
Language : Khmer
Currency : Riel
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Cambodia Website: www.mfaic.gov.kh

Indonesia

Head of State : President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Capital : Jakarta
Language : Indonesian
Currency : Rupiah
Department of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Website: www.deplu.go.id

Lao PDR

Head of State : President Choummaly Sayasone

Head of Government : Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong
Capital : Vientiane
Language : Lao
Currency : Kip
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR Website: www.mofa.gov.la

Malaysia

Head of Government : The Honourable Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak
Capital : Kuala Lumpur
Language(s) : Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil
Currency : Ringgit
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Website: www.kln.gov.my
ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat Website: www.kln.gov.my/myasean

Myanmar

Head of State : President Thein Sein

Capital : Nay Pyi Taw
Language : Myanmar
Currency : Kyat
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar Website: www.mofa.gov.mm

Philippines

Head of State : President Benigno S. Aquino III

Capital : Manila
Language(s) : Filipino, English, Spanish
Currency : Peso
Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Website: www.dfa.gov.ph

Singapore

Head of State : President Tony Tan Keng Yam

Head of Government : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Capital : Singapore
Language(s) : English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
Currency : S$ (Singapore Dollar)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Website: www.mfa.gov.sg

Thailand

Head of State : His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Head of Government : Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
Capital : Bangkok
Language : Thai
Currency : Baht
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Website: www.mfa.go.th

Viet Nam

Head of State : President Nguyen Minh Triet

Head of Government : Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
Capital : Ha Noi
Language : Vietnamese
Currency : Dong
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Website: www.mofa.gov.vn

ASEAN Charter

The ASEAN Charter serves as a firm foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community by providing
legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN. It also codifies ASEAN norms, rules and
values; sets clear targets for ASEAN; and presents accountability and compliance.

The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008. A gathering of the ASEAN Foreign
Ministers was held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta to mark this very historic occasion for
ASEAN.

With the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN will henceforth operate under a new legal
framework and establish a number of new organs to boost its community-building process.

In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement among the 10 ASEAN
Member States. It will also be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations, pursuant to
Article 102, Paragraph 1 of the Charter of the United Nations.

The importance of the ASEAN Charter can be seen in the following contexts:
New political commitment at the top level
New and enhanced commitments
New legal framework, legal personality
New ASEAN bodies
Two new openly-recruited DSGs
More ASEAN meetings
More roles of ASEAN Foreign Ministers
New and enhanced role of the Secretary-General of ASEAN
Other new initiatives and changes

ASEAN SUMMIT

Eighteenth ASEAN Summit, Jakarta, 7-8 May 2011

Seventeenth ASEAN Summit, Ha Noi, 28-30 October 2010
Sixteenth ASEAN Summit, Ha Noi, 8-9 April 2010
Fifteenth ASEAN Summit, Cha-Am Hua Hin, Thailand, 23-25 October 2009
Fourteenth ASEAN Summit, Cha-am, Thailand, 26 February - 1 March 2009
Thirteenth ASEAN Summit, Singapore, 18-22 November 2007
Twelfth ASEAN Summit, Cebu, Phillipines, 9-15 January 2007
Eleventh ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 December 2005
Tenth ASEAN Summit, Vientiane, 29-30 November 2004
Ninth ASEAN Summit, Bali, 7-8 October 2003
Eighth ASEAN Summit, Phnom Penh, 4-5 November 2002
Seventh ASEAN Summit, Bandar Seri Begawan, 5-6 November 2001
Fourth Informal Summit, Singapore, 22-25 November 2000
Third Informal Summit, Manila, 27-28 November 1999
Sixth ASEAN Summit, Ha Noi, 15-16 December 1998
Second Informal Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 14-16 December 1997
First Informal Summit, Jakarta, 30 November 1996
Fifth ASEAN Summit, Bangkok, 14-15 December 1995
Fourth ASEAN Summit, Singapore, 27-29 January 1992
Third ASEAN Summit, Manila, 14-15 December 1987
Second ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 4-5 August 1977
First ASEAN Summit, Bali, 23-24 February 1976

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM)

Established in 1967
Meets annually, with informal meetings and retreats in between
Last meeting : 43rd AMM, Ha Noi, 15-23 July 2010

ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

Established: 1994, meets annually

Last Meeting: 12th ARF, 29 July 2005, Vientiane

Objectives:

The objectives of the ASEAN Regional Forum are outlined in the First ARF Chairman's Statement
(1994), namely:
to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common
interest and concern; and
to make significant contributions to efforts towards confidence-building and preventive
diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 27th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (1994) stated that "The ARF could become an effective
consultative Asia-Pacific Forum for promoting open dialogue on political and security cooperation
in the region. In this context, ASEAN should work with its ARF partners to bring about a more
predictable and constructive pattern of relations in the Asia Pacific."

ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM)

Established in 2006
Meets annually
Last Meeting: 3rd ADMM, Pattaya, Thailand, 25-27 February 2009

The ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) is the highest defence mechanism within ASEAN.
The annual ADMM facilitates the ASEAN defence ministers to discuss and exchange views on
current defence and security issues and challenges faced. The ADMM also aims to promote
mutual trust and confidence through greater understanding of defence and security challenges
as well as enhancement of transparency and openness.

Cooperation in the ASEAN defence sector has grown steadily since its inception in 2006 with the
ASEAN Defence Ministers adopting concept papers on humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief, linkages with extra-regional partners and also on engagement with Civil Society
Organisations (CSOs).
The Concept Paper on the Use of ASEAN Military Assets and Capacities in Humanitarian
Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) aims at accelerating ASEAN Militaries’ operational
effectiveness in HADR, while the Concept Paper on ADMMPlus: Principles for Membership, is a
follow-up to the ADMMPlus Concept Paper adopted at the 2nd ADMM in November 2007. The
Concept Paper on Defence Establishments and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Cooperation on
Non-Traditional Security outlines the framework and guidelines for engagement with the CSOs on
Non-Traditional Security issues. The three Concept Papers were all adopted at the 3rd ADMM held
in Pattaya, Thailand in February 2009.

The ADMM also continues to exchange views on addressing non-traditional security challenges
and discusses the need to strengthen and take more practical steps in defence cooperation in
order to make further contribution to regional peace and stability. The Meeting also reiterated its
commitment to increase interactions at all levels and build a strong foundation to support the
establishment of the ASEAN Community as indicated in the ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC) Blueprint.

To better respond to non-traditional threats, the 3rd ADMM Joint Declaration on Strengthening
ASEAN Defence Establishments to Meet the Challenges of Non-Traditional Security Threats was
signed in Pattaya, Thailand.

The 4th ADMM will be hosted by Viet Nam in 2010.

ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM)

Established in 1986
Meets once in 36 months
Last meeting: 7th ALAWMM, Bandar Seri Begawan, 20 October 2008

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC)

Established in 1997
Meets once in two years
Last meeting: 7th AMMTC, Siem Reap, Cambodia,16-19 November 2009

ASEAN Economic Community

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) shall be the goal of regional economic integration by
2015. AEC envisages the following key characteristics: (a) a single market and production base,
(b) a highly competitive economic region, (c) a region of equitable economic development, and
(d) a region fully integrated into the global economy.

The AEC areas of cooperation include human resources development and capacity building;
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 for the building of the
AEC. In short, the AEC will transform ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services,
investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital.

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint

The ASEAN Leaders adopted the ASEAN Economic Blueprint at the 13th ASEAN Summit on 20
November 2007 in Singapore to serve as a coherent master plan guiding the establishment of
the ASEAN Economic Community 2015.

ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM)

43rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, Manado, Indonesia, 9-14 August 2011

ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA Council)

The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)

The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) has now been virtually established. ASEAN Member Countries
have made significant progress in the lowering of intra-regional tariffs through the Common
Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme for AFTA. More than 99 percent of the products in the
CEPT Inclusion List (IL) of ASEAN-6, comprising Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, have been brought down to the 0-5 percent tariff range.
[Figure 1]

ASEAN’s newer members, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam, are not far behind in
the implementation of their CEPT commitments with almost 80 percent of their products having
been moved into their respective CEPT ILS. Of these items, about 66 percent already have tariffs
within the 0-5 percent tariff band. Viet Nam has until 2006 to bring down tariff of products in the
Inclusion List to no more than 5 percent duties, Laos and Myanmar in 2008 and Cambodia in
2010.

Following the signing of the Protocol to Amend the CEPT-AFTA Agreement for the Elimination of
Import Duties on 30 January 2003, ASEAN-6 has committed to eliminate tariffs on 60 percent of
their products in the IL by the year 2003. As of this date, tariffs on 64.12 percent of the products
in the IL of ASEAN-6 have been eliminated. The average tariff for ASEAN-6 under the CEPT
Scheme is now down to 1.51 percent from 12.76 percent when the tariff cutting exercise started
in 1993.

The implementation of the CEPT-AFTA Scheme was significantly boosted in January 2004 when
Malaysia announced its tariff reduction for completely built up (CBUs) and completely knocked
down (CKDs) automotive units to gradually meet its CEPT commitment one year earlier than
schedule. Malaysia has previously been allowed to defer the transfer of 218 tariff lines of CBUs
and CKDs until 1 January 2005.

Products that remain out of the CEPT-AFTA Scheme are those in the Highly Sensitive List (i.e. rice)
and the General Exception List. The Coordinating Committee on the Implementation of the
CEPTScheme for AFTA (CCCA) is currently undertaking a review of all the General Exception Lists
to ensure that only those consistent with Article 9(b)1 of the CEPT Agreement are included in the
lists.

ASEAN Member Countries have also resolved to work on the elimination of non-tariff barriers. A
work programme on the elimination of non-tariff barriers, which includes, among others, the
process of verification and cross-notification; updating the working definition of Non-Tariff
Measures (NTMs)/Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) in ASEAN; the setting-up of a database on all NTMs
maintained by Member Countries; and the eventual elimination of unnecessary and unjustifiable
non-tariff measures, is currently being finalized.

In an effort to improve and strengthen the rules governing the implementation of the CEPT
Scheme, to make the Scheme more attractive to regional businessmen and prospective
investors, the CEPT Rules of Origin and its Operational Certification Procedures have been
revised and implemented since 1 January 2004. Among the features of the revised CEPT Rules of
Origin and Operational Certification Procedures include: (a) a standardized method of calculating
local/ASEAN content; (b) a set of principles for determining the cost of ASEAN origin and the
guidelines for costing methodologies; (c) treatment of locally-procured materials; and (d)
improved verification process, including on-site verification.

In order to promote greater utilization of the CEPTAFTA Scheme, substantial transformation has
also been adopted as an alternative rule in determining origin for CEPT products. The Task Force
on the CEPT Rules of Origin is currently working out substantial transformation rules for certain
product sectors, including wheat flour, iron and steel and the 11 priority integration sectors
covered under the Bali Concord II. Direction of Trade ASEAN’s exports had regained its upward
trend in the two years following the financial crisis of 1997- 1998 reaching its peak in 2000 when
total exports was valued at US$ 408 billion. After declining to US$ 366.8 billion in 2001, as a
result of the economic slowdown in the United States and Europe and the recession in Japan,
ASEAN exports recovered in 2002 when it was valued at US$ 380.2 billion. The upward trend for
ASEAN-6 continued up to the first two quarters of 2003. Intra-ASEAN trade for the first two
quarters of 2003 registered an increase of 4.2 and 1.6 percent for exports and imports
respectively.

ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM)

The ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), held in Langkawi in July 2003, called for
intensified cooperation in the development and exploitation of the energy resource potentials in
the ASEAN region, as well as in attracting private sector participation and investment in the
ASEAN energy sector. The Ministers agreed to work collectively in moving forward the Trans-
ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP) and the ASEAN Power Grid Projects to provide greater stability and
security of energy supply in the ASEAN region. The Ministers also agreed to enhance the ASEAN
Energy Business Forum (AEBF) as an important platform for facilitating business interaction,
technology exchange and project financing opportunities between ASEAN energy authorities and
the private sector.

The ASEAN Gas Consultative Council (AGCC) has been established to serve as an advisory body
to the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE) in the implementation of the TAGP Project. The
ASCOPE Gas Centre (AGC), to be hosted by Malaysia, will be established to serve as the strategic
technical and information resource and capacity building center in the facilitation and
implementation of the TAGP and gas development programmes in ASEAN. ASEAN is updating the
1986 ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA) with a view to adopting strategic options to
enhance petroleum security in times or circumstances of both shortages and oversupply in the
ASEAN region.

The Final Report of the ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan Study (AIMS), a reference document
to guide the implementation of the electricity interconnection projects, indicates that there are
11 potential power interconnection projects for implementation up to 2020, which are expected
to generate potential savings of about US$ 662 million (year 2000 prices) in new investment and
operating costs resulting from such interconnections. There are currently eight interconnection
projects at various stages of implementation in ASEAN.

The ASEAN Ministers on Energy agreed to strengthen partnership with China, Japan and ROK to
address mutual issues and concerns in energy security, natural gas development, oil market
studies, oil stockpiling and renewable energy. The ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy
(SOME) Plus Three Energy Policy Governing Group (EPGG) has been established.

Within the ASEAN Plus Three framework, four forums of experts were convened and served as
platforms for information and best practices sharing towards greater understanding of global and
regional issues in energy security, natural gas, oil markets and oil stockpiles. These forums have
agreed to develop an ASEAN Plus Three Energy Security Communications System and to enhance
cooperation in natural gas through infrastructure development, investment promotion, trading
arrangements and application of new technologies. The ASEAN Plus Three Energy Ministers will
meet on the occasion of the 22nd AMEM in June 2004 in Manila.

The ASEAN-Japan Framework for Comprehensive Economic Partnership provides for cooperation
in the energy sector, particularly in oil stockpiling, natural gas utilization and promotion of
energy efficiency. ASEAN and Japan leaders, at the Commemorative Summit in December 2003,
called for enhancing cooperation in energy security under the overall theme of “Consolidating
the Foundation for Economic Development and Prosperity” with the following agreed actions: (a)
develop energy policy dialogue and support ongoing capacity building programmes under
ASEAN-Japan cooperation such as the Energy Supply Security Planning in the ASEAN (ESSPA) and
the Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Conservation (PROMEEC) to enhance energy security in
East Asia; and (b) cooperate in developing infrastructure, including energy facilities such as
power stations, oil and gas pipeline network by using concessional loans, other schemes or
private finance.

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) continued to serve a key role in the facilitation of regional
energy programmes and activities. ACE facilitated cooperation between ASEAN and its partner
countries (e.g. EU, Germany, Japan, Australia and Switzerland) and international organisations
(e.g. UNESCAP, IEA, etc.). Through the ACE, ASEAN was represented as an observer organisation
in the Brussels-based Energy Charter Conference held in
December 2003.

The ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2004-2009, the successor plan to the
APAEC 1999-2004, has been finalized for adoption by the 22nd AMEM. The APAEC 2004-2009 will
enhance the integration of the regional energy infrastructures, promote energy security, create
responsive policies to progressively enhance market reforms and liberalisation, as well as on the
sustainability of the environment. The Plan consists of sectoral plans of action and roadmaps
related to the ASEAN Power Grid; TAGP; Energy Efficiency and Conservation; New and Renewable
Sources of Energy and Regional Energy Policy and Planning.

A Ministerial Declaration on the ASEAN Coordinated Response Manual for Petroleum Security
Emergency Preparedness has also been finalized for adoption in June 2004. The proposed manual
sets the standard operating procedures for expeditious consultation and coordination amongst
the ASEAN Member Countries during periods of petroleum shortages and emergencies.

The 20th Meeting of the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) was convened in
Siem Reap, Cambodia on 3-5 May 2004. HAPUA reviewed the progress of implementation of its
projects in the areas of (a) renewable energy; (b) power interconnection; (c) research,
development and engineering; (d) human resources management and development; (e)
geothermal energy; (f) rural and urban electrification; (g) Electric Power Information Centre; (h)
use of combined cycle power plants; and (i) deregulation and reform of power utilities.

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF)

ASEAN cooperation in the agriculture sector dated back as early as 1968, with cooperation in
food production and supply. In 1977, the scope of cooperation was broadened to include the
greater area of agriculture and forestry as the needs have increased. Currently, the specific areas
under the ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry includes food security, food
handling, crops, livestock, fisheries, agricultural training and extension, agricultural cooperatives,
forestry and joint cooperation in agriculture and forest products promotion scheme.

Objective

The basic objective of the ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry is to formulate and
implement regional cooperation activities to enhance the international competitiveness of
ASEAN’s food, agriculture and forestry products as well as further strengthen the food security
arrangement in the region and joint positions in international fora.

Mandate and Policy Guidance

In line with the guidance of the Fourth ASEAN Summit in 1992 to strengthen regional cooperation
in the areas of development, production, and promotion of agricultural products, the ASEAN
Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) identified seven priority areas as reflected in the
Ministerial Understanding (MU) on ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry signed in
October 1993 in Bandar Seri Begawan. The MU acts as the umbrella of the ASEAN cooperation in
food, agriculture and forestry.

i. Strengthening food security in the region;

ii. Facilitation and promotion of intra- and extra-ASEAN trade in agriculture and forestry products;
iii. Generation and transfer of technology to increase productivity and develop agribusiness and
silvo-business;
iv. Agricultural rural community and human resource development;
v. Private sector involvement and investment;
vi. Management and conservation of natural resources for sustainable development; and
vii. Strengthening ASEAN cooperation and joint approaches in addressing international and
regional issues.

For the forestry sector, ASEAN, specifically developed five strategic thrusts, namely:

i. Sustainable forest management

ii. Strengthening ASEAN cooperation and joint approaches in addressing international and
regional forestry issues
iii. Promotion of intra- and extra-ASEAN trade in forest products and private sector participation
iv. Increasing productivity and efficient utilisation of forest products
v. Capacity building and human resources development.

In response to the sharp increase in international food prices in 2007/2008, the Leaders pledged
to embrace food security as a matter of permanent and high priority policy and adopted a
Statement on Food Security in the ASEAN Region, which commits, among others, to the
implementation of the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and the Strategic Plan
of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region (SPA-FS) (2009-2013).

Implementation Mechanism

The SOM-AMAF is the main ASEAN body that oversees the overall ASEAN cooperation in food
and agriculture, with the guidance of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF).
Sectoral working groups/ joint committee/ board, and experts groups have been established to
implement the respective cooperation sectors of food, and the various sub-sectors of agriculture
and forestry, as well as in the trade promotion of agriculture and forest products. In this
mechanism, the ASEAN Secretariat acts as the overall coordinator and provides necessary
assistance in all aspects to ensure successful undertaking of the cooperation programmes and
projects in collaboration with sectoral working groups, national focal points and relevant
institutions.

Areas of Cooperation

ASEAN has implemented numerous cooperation projects in food, agriculture and forestry sectors,
which cover a wide spectrum of activities ranging from exchange of information, crop production,
postharvest and handling, training and extension, research and development as well as trade
promotion in the areas of crops, livestock, fisheries, and forestry.
In order to respond to trade globalisation, ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry is
now more focused on the enhancement of food, agricultural and forestry products
competitiveness in international markets, while sustaining agricultural production.
Harmonisation of quality and standards, assurance of food safety, and standardisation of trade
certification are amongst the priorities being addressed, building upon the experience of some
Member States and existing international standards.

Most of the ASEAN programmes and projects are implemented under a networking arrangement,
where cooperation is implemented through the focal point in each ASEAN Member States and
utilises national funds.

ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting (AFMM)

REGIONAL COOPERATION IN FINANCE

ASEAN Finance Cooperation

ASEAN economies are now recovering from the global financial crisis, due to the effective
economic stimulus measures that the various ASEAN governments have implemented to support
domestic demand, restore market confidence and stabilise financial markets. As a result, ASEAN
grew by 1.5 percent in 2009 and is expected to grow further by 4.9-5.6 percent in 2010. Going
forward, the challenge for ASEAN is to sustain the economic recovery by implementing
appropriate monetary and fiscal policies and strengthening the various reform measures that
have been in place since the Asian financial crisis in 1997/98.

At the 14th ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting (AFMM) in Nha Trang, Viet Nam, in April 2010, the
Ministers committed themselves to further promote financial stability in the region. Despite the
region’s dynamism, robust financial system and strong economic frameworks, the Ministers
agreed to remain vigilant against the uncertainties in major advanced economies and committed
to maintain growth momentum in order to achieve a stable, efficient and resilient financial
system in the region. The Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to implement policies that
favour strong and sustainable growth as well as promote domestic demand, boost productivity
and enhance the integration of ASEAN’s markets.

ASEAN Surveillance Process (ASP)

The ASP started in 1999 as a mechanism for peer review and exchange of views among the
senior officials (central bank and finance) and Finance Ministers on recent economic
developments and policy issues in ASEAN. Since then, it has evolved into an important
mechanism in ASEAN on regional economic monitoring and surveillance.
Key achievements to date include: establishment of a dedicated unit at the ASEAN Secretariat
(ASEC) to conduct regional surveillance and facilitate regional cooperation activities in finance;
establishment of national surveillance units in selected countries (Indonesia, Cambodia, Lao PDR,
Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam) to assist in building capabilities in surveillance related work;
capacity building training programmes for ASEAN finance and central bank officials on regional
economic monitoring and surveillance, conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB);
conduct of technical studies and policy papers on finance and economic issues (e.g., fiscal
sustainability, banking and corporate restructuring, and monitoring of capital flows).
At the Special AFMM in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in May 2010, the Ministers endorsed the Terms of
Reference and initial budget for the establishment of the high-level finance and macroeconomic
surveillance office at ASEC, called the Macroeconomic and Finance Surveillance Office (MFSO).
The MFSO will be responsible for implementing surveillance in ASEAN and monitoring regional
economic integration initiatives such as financial integration. The MFSO is currently being set up
at ASEC and is expected to be fully operational in 2011.
Roadmap for Monetary and Financial Integration of ASEAN (RIA-Fin)
Endorsed by the AFMM in Manila in 2003, RIA-Fin consists of steps, timelines and indicators of
activities in four areas: (a) Capital Market Development, (b) Liberalisation of Financial Services,
(c) Capital Account Liberalisation and (d) ASEAN Currency Cooperation, with the ultimate goal of
greater economic integration in ASEAN by 2015.

Capital Market Development: Intended to build capacity and lay the long-term infrastructure for
development of ASEAN capital markets, with a long-term goal of achieving cross-border
collaboration between the various capital markets in ASEAN. Key achievements to date include
the adoption of a proposed “Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF)” to guide the work of the
Working Committee on Capital Market Development and to align capital market development to
the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint; enhancing market access, linkages and
liquidity through such proposed initiatives as ASEAN Exchanges linkages, Bond Markets linkages;
and promoting credit ratings comparability between domestic and international credit rating
agencies. A Bond Market Development Scorecard is currently being developed to identify market
gaps and to develop a framework for ASEAN to take stock of the progress of its work in relation
to the agreed priorities.

Financial Services Liberalisation: Intended to achieve free flow of financial services by 2015.
Liberalisation is carried out based on a positive list approach modality, where Member States will
prepare an indicative list of financial services sub-sectors and modes for liberalisation.
Negotiations are undertaken based on the combined unilateral and/or request/offer mechanisms.
To date, four rounds of negotiations have been completed, including the package of
commitments and offers. In April 2010, a new modality for financial services liberalisation which
is based on pre-agreed flexibilities was endorsed by the Finance Ministers. This modality will
guide the negotiations for the fifth round of financial services liberalisation to be completed by
end-December 2010. The Working Committee is also involved in negotiations of financial services
with several ASEAN Dialogue Partners.

Capital Account Liberalisation: Intended to achieve freer flow of capital by 2015. Member States
agreed to take stock of current status of, and prepare, and implement national work programmes
for capital account liberalisation, including capacity building. The progress of implementation of
national work programmes will be monitored annually. To date, Member States have finalsed
their self-assessment and identification of rules appropriate for liberalisation of regulations
related to foreign direct investment (FDI). The results of that assessment indicate that most
Member States have been open in their FDI regimes. Assessment and identification of regulations
for portfolio flows is currently being undertaken.

ASEAN Currency Cooperation: Intended to explore ways that could further facilitate intra-regional
trade and investment and economic integration, including through some forms of currency
arrangements. As preconditions for closer currency cooperation, efforts would be made toward
maintaining appropriate macroeconomic policies and foster greater macroeconomic
convergence.
ASEAN Plus Three (ASEAN+3) Finance Cooperation

Chiang Mai Initiative Multilaterisation (CMIM)

The Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI) was established by the ASEAN Plus Three Finance Ministers
Meeting (AFMM+3) in 2000 as a network of bilateral currency swap arrangements to: (a) address
short-term liquidity difficulties in the region and (b) supplement the existing international
financial arrangements. The CMI has two phases. In 2004, the AFMM+3 agreed to have a more
advanced framework for liquidity support that focuses on the multilaterisation of CMI (CMIM).
An enlarged US$120 billion swap arrangement under the CMIM took effect in March 2010. The
CMIM signifies the most significant collective response of ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic
of Korea to the global financial crisis. To support the implementation of the CMIM, an independent
regional monitoring and surveillance unit, called the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office
(AMRO), will be established in Singapore in early 2011.
Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI)

ABMI was launched in 2003 with two objectives: to (a) develop local-currency denominated bond
markets, and (b) develop more accessible and well-functioning regional bond markets both for
issuers and investors.
Following the new ABMI Roadmap endorsed by the 11th ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers Meeting
(AFMM+3) in Madrid in May 2008, the four ABMI Working Groups have evolved into Task Forces
addressing the four key areas namely: i) promoting key issuance of local currency-denominated
bonds; ii) facilitating the demand of local currency-denominated bonds; iii) improving regulatory
framework and iv) improving related infrastructure for the bond markets. The Technical
Assistance Coordination Team (TACT) has continued to provide technical assistance in bond
markets to interested members. One of the key initiatives under the ABMI framework is the
establishment of the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF) aimed at supporting the
issuance of local currency-denominated bonds in the region. The CGIF is expected to operate by
the end of December 2010.
Under the new Roadmap, Task Forces have been streamlined to develop work programmes and
focus on key priorities under each area. ASEC has been assisting the ABMI as administrator of
technical assistance programmes being implemented by the Japanese Ministry of Finance under
the Japan Technical Assistance Fund (JAFTA). The technical assistance focus on building capacities
of ASEAN countries in various aspects of bond market development (e.g., infrastructure support).
ASEAN+3 Research Group

To identify policy issues and support exchange of views among ASEAN+3 finance officials, the
ASEAN+3 Research Group has been undertaking policy-oriented studies since 2003. Since the
establishment of the Research Group in 2004, a network of 22 research institutes in ASEAN+3
countries has been established, resulting in the conduct of major studies focusing on financial
stability issues. In 2009/2010, the Research group has concluded research on two topics namely:
i) Ways to Promote Foreign Trade Settlements Denominated in Local Currencies in East Asia and
ii) Regulation and Supervision for Sound Liquidity Risk Management for Banks. For 2010/2011,
the ASEAN+3 Research Group will tackle three issues namely: i) Possible Use of Regional
Monetary Units – Identification of Issues for Practical Use; ii) Lessons from Asia’s Experiences
with Sudden Capital Flows and iii) Fiscal and Financial Impacts of the Climate Change and Policy
Challenges in East Asia. These studies are expected to be completed and endorsed by AFMM+3
in May 2011. To further access the Studies under the purview of ASEAN+3 Research Group,
please click the following page.
To promote financial stability in ASEAN+3 countries, the Ministry of Finance of Japan has been
providing Technical and Research Assistance support (under the purview of ASEAN+3 Research
Group) as well as capacity building programme for ASEAN Member States through the Japan –
ASEAN Financial Technical Assistance (JAFTA) Fund. To date, JAFTA has provided technical
assistance in Managing Capital Flows, Capacity Building for Macroeconomic Statistics and
Developing Bond Markets (Phase I – IV) as well as Promotion of Medium Term Note Programme.
Moreover, Symposiums on Development of the Corporate Credit Information Database and Credit
Guarantee System were successfully held in Bali and Manila in June 2009 and June 2010
respectively.
Other Finance Cooperation Initiatives

ASEAN Capital Market Forum (ACMF): Current efforts focus on projects to harmonise standards in
capital market regulations in ASEAN in two areas: (a) disclosure requirements for equity
securities; and (b) distribution rules. Two other projects on harmonisation of accounting
standards and auditing standards, and mutual recognition of certification and qualification of
market professionals, have been concluded last year. Following the endorsement in April 2009 of
the “Implementation Plan to Promote the Development of an Integrated Capital Market”,
disclosure standards for multi-jurisdictional offerings of securities have been adopted in Malaysia,
Singapore and Thailand. A Memorandum of Understanding among six ASEAN Exchanges
(Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam) was signed to establish an
electronic link among ASEAN Exchanges and an ASEAN Electronic Board. Work on cross-border
offerings, particularly on the development of a mutual recognition framework for market
professionals as well as cross-border offerings of debt securities and collective investment
schemes, is also underway.
ASEAN Insurance Cooperation: Current efforts by the ASEAN Insurance Regulators Meeting
(AIRM) include sharing of insurance statistics among countries with the end goal of achieving a
unified form of statistics; exchange of views on regulatory issues and observance of core
principles related to insurance markets; consultations with private sector (Council of Bureaux) to
implement compulsory insurance for motor-vehicles under the Blue Card System; and conduct of
research and capacity building programmes for insurance regulators through the ASEAN
Insurance Training and Research Institute (AITRI).
Cooperation with APG on Anti-money Laundering: Since 2006, ASEC has entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Asia Pacific Group (APG) Secretariat to coordinate
training and capacity building programmes on anti-money laundering and counter financing of
terrorism (AML/CFT) for ASEAN countries that are also members of the APG. Both ASEC and the
APG Secretariat are in the process of exploring areas where coordination between the two
secretariats can be further strengthened in order to identify/develop regional programmes on
AML/CFT.
East Asia Finance Cooperation (EAS): Cooperation in finance for the East Asia Summit (EAS)
participating countries is still at its early stage of development. Currently, such cooperation takes
the form of an informal dialogue among the EAS Finance Ministers and senior finance officials,
where the Ministers and officials explore possible areas of cooperation under the EAS. At the
inaugural EAS Finance Ministers Meeting held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 2 May 2010, the
Ministers discussed the work of the G-20, including how the region's economic development
could better fit within the framework for strong, sustainable and balanced growth established by
the G-20 Leaders, as well as EAS regional cooperation and capacity building. To date, two
capacity building programmes under the EAS informal finance dialogue have been co-organised
by Australia and Malaysia: in 2009 in Cambodia and in 2010 in Lao PDR.

ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council

The goal of the ASEAN Economic Community is to establish ASEAN as a single market and
production base that will make ASEAN more dynamic and competitive. In this context, one of the
five core elements of an ASEAN single market and production base is the free flow of
investments. A free and open investment regime is key to enhancing ASEAN’s competitiveness
and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) as well as intra-ASEAN investment. Sustained
inflows of investments will promote and ensure the dynamic development of ASEAN.

ASEAN cooperation in promoting investment flows was implemented through the 1998
Framework Agreement on the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) and the ASEAN Agreement for the
Promotion and Protection of Investment 1987 or commonly known as the ASEAN Investment
Guarantee Agreement (IGA). In 2007, the 39th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting agreed to
review the AIA Agreement the ASEAN IGA, with a view towards consolidating these two
agreements towards creating a free and open investment regime to attract investments and to
achieve ASEAN economic integration.

In February 2009, the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA) was signed. The
Agreement is scheduled to enter into force by the end of 2009. ACIA is a comprehensive
agreement covering liberalisation, protection, facilitation and promotion and includes new
provisions as well as improvements to AIA/IGA provisions.

With the conclusion of ACIA, ASEAN is confident of remaining in the forefront as a major recipient
of FDI flows. In 2008, FDI flows to the region remained resilient even in the face of adverse
global circumstances. Since the Asian financial crisis, FDI inflows into ASEAN has regained its
strength, tripling from its low of US$ 23 billion in 1998 to a high of US$ 69 billion in 2007.
Despite the 2008 global economic and financial crisis, FDI inflows into ASEAN remained strong at
US$ 59 billion.
In particular, intra-ASEAN FDI flows have proven more robust than anticipated, expanding by an
exceptional 13.4% in 2008 to US$ 10.7 billion. The increase in intra-ASEAN flows reflects well on
ASEAN integration efforts and the success of trade and investment policies that promote intra-
ASEAN liberalisation through strengthened rules for trade in goods, services and investment.

The European Union remains ASEAN single largest investor in 2008, with a share of 21.9% or
investment amounting to US$ 12.9 billion, followed by Japan at 12.1% or US$ 7.1 billion. The
United States was third with a share of 5.1% or US$ 3.0 billion in 2008. FDI flows continued to
predominate in the services and manufacturing sector, accounting for 51.0% and 29.7% of total
FDI flows into ASEAN or US$ 30.1 billion and US$ 17.5 billion in 2008 respectively. The mining
and quarrying sector is also becoming more important, with a share of 5.0% or US$ 2.8 billion in
2008.

A number of investment publications would provide further information on the investment

situation on ASEAN. These are:

ASEAN FDI Statistics

ASEAN Investment Report
ASEAN – Your Gateway to an Economic Community
ASEAN Facts and Figures 2008

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin)

Established in 2005
Meets at least once in three years
Last Meeting : Inaugural AMMin, Kuching, Malaysia, 4 August 2005

ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC)

Established in 1996
Meets annually
Last Meeting : 11th Ministerial Meeting on AMBDC, Bangkok, 16 August 2009

ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting (ATM)

Established in 1996
Meets annually
Last Meeting : 14th ATM, Manila, 6 November 2008

ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting (TELMIN)

The 3rd Meeting of the ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers (TELMIN), held in September
2003, adopted the Singapore Declaration - an action agenda to harness technological advances
in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to create digital opportunities for ASEAN
and to enhance ASEAN’s overall competitiveness.

The TELMIN has taken over the technological aspects of the e-ASEAN work programme from the
auspices of the ASEAN Economic Ministers. The Telecommunications Senior Officials Meeting
(TELSOM) Working Groups are carrying out the four objectives of the e-ASEAN Framework
Agreement, namely (a) to develop, strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of the ICT
sector; (b) reduce the digital divide within and amongst ASEAN Member Countries; (c) promote
cooperation between the public and private sectors; (d) develop ASEAN Information
Infrastructure.
Efforts to establish the ASEAN Information Infrastructure continued with a view to promote
interoperability, interconnectivity, security and integrity. A database of National Information
Infrastructure profiles has been created to encourage competition, rapid deployment of new
technology and ICT investment in the region. The Ministers of Telecommunications and IT
decided that all ASEAN Member Countries develop and operationalise national Computer
Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) by 2005 in line with mutually agreed minimum performance
criteria. A virtual forum for ASEAN cybersecurity is being formed to develop a common
framework to coordinate exchange of information, establishment of standards and cooperation
among enforcement agencies.

Intra-ASEAN trade and investment in ICT is being enhanced through identification and elimination
of impediments, fostering pro-business policies on ICT trade and investment and establishing
regulatory environments which are transparent, predictable, and non-discriminatory. The ICT
products’ list and the tariff reduction schedule have been updated. Creation of a database of
trade and investment policy and regulatory practices is under consideration.

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam have indicated their readiness to implement the first
phase of the ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators
Council Mutual Recognition Arrangements (ATRC MRA) in 2003. Bilateral MRAs were carried out
between Brunei and Singapore and between Indonesia and Singapore. ASEAN continued to
develop the e-commerce legal infrastructure to promote trust and consumer confidence.

ASEAN is building a network of ICT skills competency centers/agencies to promote collaboration

amongst these centers and agencies, including training of ASEAN SMEs to harness the benefits of
ICT applications. ASEAN has developed a Digital Divide Database to promote understanding of
the dimensions of the ASEAN digital divide, exchange information on Universal Service Obligation
(USO) schemes and develop joint studies and projects.

An ASEAN-China Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Information and

Communications Technology was signed in October 2003. Among the areas agreed include
China’s commitment to utilize its domestic training bases to provide training for personnel of
ASEAN Member Countries. ASEAN and China have agreed to cooperate in developing MRAs for
ICT Skills Certification. Furthermore, China will assist in the construction and development of
information infrastructure such as fixed/mobile communications networks, multimedia
applications and Internet in ASEAN Member Countries.

ASEAN submitted a joint statement to the World Summit on the Information Society, held in
Geneva on 10 December 2003, which advocated the following: (a) the global strategy to realize
the Information Society must be based on concrete milestones rather than broad visions; (b) the
Plan of Action should be adapted to each region’s unique and diverse needs; and (c) existing
regional initiatives such as e-ASEAN should be leveraged upon when implementing ICT
programmes.

ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting (M-ATM)

As one of priority sectors for ASEAN integration, ASEAN tourism performed an outstanding
growth in 2010 with total international arrivals of more than 73 million and increase of 11 per
cent compared to 2009. Intra-ASEAN travel was the major source market for the region with
share of 47 per cent in 2010.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) continued to be the landmark of annual tourism event in the
region. The ATF 2011 held on 15-21 January 2011 in Phnom Penh with the theme: “ASEAN- a
World of Wonders and Diversity” was attended by more than 442 international buyers and more
than 380 sellers with 512 booths in ASEAN.
Acknowledging the importance of tourism as an economic engine and a tool for development and
change in the region, the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2011-2015 was endorsed by the
ASEAN Tourism Ministers at their 14th Meeting as the successor of the Roadmap for Integration
of Tourism Sector (RITS) which was completed in 2010.This ATSP will contribute to the overall
goals of the ASEAN Community by 2015 through promotion of growth, integration and
competitiveness of the tourism sector and at the same time deepen social and cultural
understanding as well as facilitating travel into and within ASEAN. The ATSP provides a balanced
set of actions and activities to realise the following vision:

“By 2015, ASEAN will provide an increasing number of visitors to the region with authentic and
diverse products, enhanced connectivity, a safe and secure environment, increased quality of
services, while at the same time ensuring an increased quality of life and opportunities for
residents through responsible and sustainable tourism development by working effectively with a
wide range of stakeholders”

ASEAN adopted a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on tourism professionals that will
increase the equality of tourism human resource and will facilitate the mobility of tourism
professionals within the region using the ASEAN Minimum Competency Standards for Tourism as
the basis.
In further enhancing ASEAN as a world-class tourism destination, the ASEAN Member States also
adopted the standardization of tourism services covering Green Hotel; Food and Beverage
Services; Public Restroom; Home Stay; Ecotourism and Tourism Heritage. The ASEAN Green Hotel
Award was held in 2008 and 2010 to provide recognition to hotels that fulfilled the ASEAN Green
Hotel Standards.

The 4thASEAN Tourism Investment Forum (ATIF) was successfully held on 29-30 September 2010
in Hoi Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The next ATIF will be held in Manado, Indonesia in 2012.

The ASEAN joint tourism promotion to create brand awareness and promote ASEAN as a region in
major markets for 2010 was conducted by the ASEAN Tourism Promotional Chapter (APCT) in
Australia through participation in major tourism consumer shows in Brisbane, Melbourne and
Sydney. In further expanding the ASEAN joint marketing efforts in major source markets, ASEAN
is establishing APCT in Mumbai and Dubai in 2011.

ASEAN Member States currently developing a new ASEAN tourism marketing strategy that would
review the implementation of the Visit ASEAN Campaign and existing ASEAN tourism marketing
activities, including the policy framework of the marketing strategy, market review, brand
strategy, and implementation and distribution strategy. The outcomes of this exercise are
expected to strengthen and renew the activities of Visit ASEAN Campaign activities in line with
the ASEAN Tourism Agreement signed by the ASEAN Leaders in 2002.

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community aims to contribute to realising an ASEAN Community that
is people-oriented and socially responsible with a view to achieving enduring solidarity and unity
among the peoples and Member States of ASEAN. It seeks to forge a common identity and build
a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and where the well-being, livelihood, and welfare
of the peoples are enhanced.

ASCC is focused on nurturing the human, cultural and natural resources for sustained
development in a harmonious and people-oriented ASEAN.

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint

The ASCC Blueprint represents the human dimension of ASEAN cooperation and upholds ASEAN
commitment to address the region’s aspiration to lift the quality of life of its peoples. The goals of
the ASCC are envisaged to be achieved by implementing concrete and productive actions that
are people-centred and socially responsible. This set of cooperative activities has been
developed based on the assumption that the three pillars of the ASEAN Community are
interdependent and interrelated and that linkages are imperative to ensure complementarity and
unity of purpose.

The ASCC Blueprint was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 14th ASEAN Summit on 1 March
2009 in Cha-am/Hua Hin, Thailand.

ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture & Arts (AMCA)

ASEAN is a region of immense and colourful cultural diversity, one that shares common historical
threads. ASEAN Member States promote cooperation in culture to help build an ASEAN identity.
They seek to promote ASEAN awareness and a sense of community, preserve and promote
ASEAN cultural heritage, promote cultural creativity and industry, and engage with the
community. ASEAN Leaders envision ASEAN as a community of caring societies, conscious of its
ties of history, aware of its cultural heritage and bound by a common regional identity.

One of the main bodies in ASEAN cooperation in culture is the ASEAN Committee on Culture and
Information (COCI). Established in 1978, its mission is to promote effective cooperation in the
fields of culture through its various projects and activities. The COCI comprises 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.

Activities in the area of culture include the conservation and preservation of cultural heritage,
promotion and cooperation on cultural industry and the production of cultural showcases. To cite
some examples, 2009 saw the production of the coffee table book “Water: A Unifying Force in
ASEAN”, a workshop that gathered experts from the region to discuss the prevention of illicit
transfer and illegal trafficking of cultural properties, a symposium involving ASEAN Museum
Directors and their engagement with the community, and the 3rd Best of ASEAN Performing Arts
series (Singapore production) to raise ASEAN awareness about the region’s rich and diverse
cultures.

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM)

The ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) was established in early 2003 following
the decision of the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC). The institutional mechanism (in the form
of experts group) has existed since the ‘70s but was only strengthened towards 2003 with the
elevation of the experts group into a full-fledged committee. The ACDM consists of heads of
national agencies responsible for disaster management of ASEAN Member Countries. The ACDM
assumes overall responsibility for coordinating and implementing the regional activities. The
ACDM met for the first time in D ecember 2003.

The ASEAN Regional Programme on Disaster Management

In pursuing a region of disaster-resilient nations and safer communities, the ACDM has developed
an ASEAN Regional Programme on Disaster Management (ARPDM) to provide a framework for
cooperation for the period of 2004-2010. The ARPDM outlines ASEAN’s regional strategy on
disaster management, as well as priority areas and activities for disaster reduction.

The ARPDM is also used as a platform for cooperation and collaboration with ASEAN Dialogue
Partners and relevant international organisations. Ongoing partners of ACDM include: the United
States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the Pacific Disaster Centre, the United Nations
Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), UNICEF, IFRC, Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), etc.
The ARPDM consists of 29 activities, which are categorised into five major components. To
spearhead with the implementation, the ACDM has prioritised 5 out of 29 activities as priority
projects: (i) Establishment of the ASEAN Response Action Plan; (ii) Refresher Courses/ Expertise
Development; (iii) ASEAN Disaster Information Sharing and Communication Network (ASEAN
DISCNet), i.e. Development of ACDM Website and NDMO Websites; and Publication of ASEAN
Disaster Management Information Network (ADMIN) Newsletter; (iv) Partnerships with Relevant
Organisations and NGOs; and Mobilising Financial Support and Resources; and (v) ASEAN Day for
Disaster Management; and Enhancing Disaster Management Public Education and Awareness
Programmes.

One of the priority projects under the ARPDM is the Establishment of an ASEAN Regional Disaster
Management Framework. Under this, activities will include development of a regional agreement
on disaster management and emergency response; development of standard operating
procedures to operationalise disaster response mechanism under the agreement; enhancing
quick response team of Member Countries; and conduct of simulation exercises.

ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting (ASED)

Education underpins ASEAN community building. Education lies at the core of ASEAN’s
development process, creating a knowledge-based society and contributing to the enhancement
of ASEAN competitiveness. ASEAN also views education as the vehicle to raise ASEAN awareness,
inspire the “we feeling”, and create a sense of belonging to the ASEAN Community and
understanding of the richness of ASEAN’s history, languages, culture and common values.

At the 11th 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 the
ASEAN Education Ministers’ Meetings (ASED) on a regular basis. The Leaders also called for
ASEAN Education Ministers to focus on enhancing regional cooperation in education.

As the collective entity to enhance regional cooperation in education, the ASEAN Education
Ministers identified four priorities that ASEAN cooperation on education would address, namely:
(i) Promoting ASEAN Awareness among ASEAN citizens, particularly youth; (ii) Strengthening
ASEAN identity through education; (iii) Building ASEAN human resources in the field of education;
and (iv) Strengthening ASEAN University Networking. To this end, various projects and activities
have been/are being developed/organised to fulfil the directives.

In recognition of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization’s (SEAMEO)

contribution to human resource development in the region since 1965, the Education Ministers
agreed that the existing ASEAN and SEAMEO forums on education should integrate their
respective programmes and activities in a complementary manner. The priorities of ASEAN
cooperation on education would be undertaken through collaboration with SEAMEO.

ASEAN cooperation on education is overseen at the Ministerial level by an ASEAN Education

Ministers Meeting – which meets annually – and the implementation of the programmes and
activities for education matters is carried out by the ASEAN Senior Officials on Education (SOM-
ED), which reports to the ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting. SOM-ED also oversees cooperation
on higher education, which is coordinated by the ASEAN University Network (AUN). The AUN was
established to serve as an ASEAN mechanism to (i) Promote cooperation among ASEAN scholars,
academicians, and scientists in the region; (ii) Develop academic and professional human
resource in the region; (iii) Promote information dissemination among the ASEAN academic
community; and, (iv) Enhance the awareness of regional identity and the sense of ‘ASEANness’
among members. Visit the AUN website at www.aun-sec.org.

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment (AMME)

Established in 1981
Last Meeting 11th AMME, Singapore, 29 October 2009
ASEAN’s environment and natural resource endowments are unique and diverse. Half a billion
people in ASEAN depend primarily on these natural resource endowments for economic and
social development and livelihood. In many ASEAN countries, land resources and terrestrial
ecosystems are under increasing stress due to growing population and extension of agricultural
land into forest and other ecologically sensitive areas. This is compounded by pollution due to
accelerated industrialisation and urbanisation in ASEAN member countries. These environmental
problems are complex in nature and transcend national boundaries which call for increased
regional and global cooperation.

The ASEAN leaders view the protection of the environment and the sustainable use and
management of natural resources as essential to the long-term economic growth and social
development of their countries and the region. The ASEAN Vision 2020 calls for “a clean and
green ASEAN with fully established mechanisms for sustainable development to ensure the
protection of the region’s environment, the sustainability of its natural resources and the high
quality of life of its peoples”.

ASEAN recognises the synergistic benefits in addressing common environmental problems on a

regional basis and has since 1977 developed a series of ASEAN Sub-regional Environmental
Programmes (ASEP I, II, and III), followed by the Strategic Plan of Action on the Environment,
1999-2004 (SPAE). ASEAN Vision 2020 and the current Vientiane Action Programme 2004-2010
(VAP), the successor to the Ha Noi Plan of Action 1999 – 2004 (HPA), has further elaborated 12
strategies and 55 programme areas and measures to achieve the twin objective of promoting
environmental sustainability and sustainable natural resource management.

The ASEAN Ministers responsible for Environment in November 2002 agreed to further synergise
the regional environmental cooperation by identifying the following ten priority areas based on
the World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation as follows:

Global environmental issues,

Land and forest fires and transboundary haze pollution,
Coastal and marine environment,
Sustainable forest management,
Sustainable management of natural parks and protected areas,
Freshwater resources,
Public awareness and environmental education,
Promotion of environmentally sound technologies and cleaner production,
Urban environmental management and governance, and,
Sustainable development, monitoring and reporting/ database harmonisation.
As environmental issues are interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral in nature and have impacts at
the regional and global levels, concerted efforts have been made to coordinate activities with the
relevant sectoral bodies of ASEAN, and other regional and international institutions.
Environmental considerations have been incorporated into the development plans of other
sectors to ensure that the goals of environmentally sound sustainable development are
achieved. The ASEAN Secretariat plays an important coordinating and enabling role in integrating
environmental factors into other development activities of ASEAN.

COP to AATHP (Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary

Haze Pollution)

Established in 2003
Meets at least once every year
Last meeting: COP-6, Brunei Darussalam, 13 October 2010

ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM)

Established in 1980
Meets once in two years
Last meeting: 10th AHMM, Singapore, 22-23 July 2010

ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI)

ASEAN Member States promote cooperation in information to help build an ASEAN identity. One
of the main bodies in ASEAN cooperation in information is the ASEAN Committee on Culture and
Information (COCI). Established in 1978, its mission is to promote effective cooperation in the
fields of information, as well as culture, through its various projects and activities. The COCI
comprises 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.

Activities in the information sector involve the development of an ASEAN Computer Game and
implementation of the ASEAN Quiz at national and regional levels in 2009. ASEAN awareness also
is raised through the ASEAN-in-Action and the ASEAN Television News programmes, which
involves the exchange of news about the region among radio and television broadcasters
respectively for the last 15 years. ASEAN cooperation in digital broadcasting, including working
towards an analogue switch-off date, is another important activity of the information sector. The
visits of ASEAN journalists to China, India and the Republic of Korea and vice-versa help to
establish networking among media practitioners.

ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting

Background

To enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN, human capital holds a key role in driving the direction
of the economy and the social progress. With ASEAN’s massive labour force amounting to 285
million, ASEAN recognises the importance of job creation, developing the quality of the workforce
and providing social security to the workers.

Since 2000, ASEAN’s work on labour and human resources has been guided by the ASEAN Labour
Ministers (ALM) Work Programme. The Work Programme provides the framework to prepare the
region’s labour force to face the challenges of globalisation and trade liberalisation. The five
broad priorities initially set in the Work Programme are in the areas of employment generation,
labour market monitoring, labour mobility, social protection, and tripartite cooperation. In May
2006, the ASEAN Labour Ministers agreed in their Joint Statement of 2006 to add a sixth priority
area, namely occupational safety and health (OSH), in the ALM Work Programme.

Apart from the priorities set in the ALM Work Programme, ASEAN made a groundbreaking move
to address the issue of migrant workers on 13 January 2007, when its Leaders signed the ASEAN
Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. The Declaration
mandates ASEAN countries to promote fair and appropriate employment protection, payment of
wages, and adequate access to decent working and living conditions for migrant workers. As a
follow-up to the Declaration, an ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN
Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) convened
its first Meeting in September 2008. The ACMW is currently in the process of drafting the ASEAN
instrument on the protection and promotion of migrant workers and started the first round of
discussions in April 2009 in Bangkok.

ASEAN Labour Cooperation Structure

ASEAN’s effort on labour is led by the ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting (ALMM) which is held
every two years. The historical 1st ALMM was held in April 1975 in Jakarta. Under the ALMM is the
Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM) which monitors the progress of implementation of the
ALM Programme. Since the continuous growth in labour cooperation, SLOM has established four
subsidiary bodies, namely:

1. Senior Labour Officials Meeting Working Group on Progressive Labour Practices to Enhance the

Competitiveness of ASEAN (SLOM-WG)

The Working Group was first established in 2006 as an Ad-Hoc Working Group and was
reconstituted as a permanent body under SLOM in 2008. SLOM-WG focuses its efforts on priority
areas including Human Resource, Social Security, Industrial Relations, Skills Development and
Networking, Skills Recognition, Labour Law, Labour Statistics, and Decent Work

2. ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and
Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW)

The Committee was established as a follow-up to the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and
Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. The Committee’s work focuses on four main thrusts
as follows:

Thrust 1: Step up protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers against exploitation
and mistreatment
Thrust 2: Strengthen protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers by enhancing
labour migration governance in ASEAN Member States
Thrust 3: Regional cooperation to fight human trafficking in ASEAN, in collaboration with the
Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime
Thrust 4: Development of an ASEAN instrument on the protection and promotion of the rights of
migrant workers

3. ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network (OSHNET)

The ASEAN OSHNET has been a longstanding subsidiary of SLOM, celebrating its tenth
anniversary in 2009. ASEAN OSHNET aims to promote cooperation in improving safety and health
in the workplace in the ASEAN region. It also serves as a platform to exchange experience and
information in the field of occupational safety and health standards, training, research, inspection
and national framework. Further information can be found in the website www.aseanoshnet.org .

4. SLOM Working Group on the HIV Prevention and Control in the Work Place

The Working Group was established in May 2008 with the general objectives to facilitate policy
dialogue and information sharing among Member States on good practices and strategic actions
on issues and areas related to HIV/AIDS in the Workplace and to be a platform for identifying
ways forward, including enhancing regional collaboration among ASEAN on HIV/AIDS in the
Workplace. The Working Group’s specific objectives are to study the need for legislative
instruments on HIV and AIDS and the world of work based on the ILO’s Code of Practice on
HIV/AIDS and the World of Work and to assist in the development of an ASEAN-wide model
HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy led by the lead countries with technical support from the ILO,
combining experiences, tools and approaches of the Member States.

In collaboration with ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, a number of activities and various studies have
been completed, are on-going or being prepared by ASEAN. ASEAN has worked with Dialogue
Partners in several areas such as Industrial Relations, Social Protection, and Human Resource
Development. In addition, joint activities are also being undertaken under the purview of the
ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM+3), which was established in 2001 under the
framework of ASEAN cooperation with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (Plus Three
countries). The ALMM+3 is now convened back-to-back with the ALMM.

Relations between ILO and ASEAN have been ongoing since 2003 and have led to several joint
initiatives and projects. A Cooperation Agreement between the ASEAN Secretariat and the
International Labour Office was signed in March 2007.

ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (AMRDPE)

ASEAN’s efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the region continued
unabated in the year under review. At the 14th ASEAN Summit held in Thailand in March 2009,
the ASEAN Leaders, in the Joint Declaration on the Attainment of the MDGs in ASEAN, called for
the development of a Roadmap on the MDGs. The Roadmap would serve as a framework for
collective action among ASEAN Member States to achieve the MDGs focusing on five key areas,
namely advocacy and linkages, knowledge, resources, expertise and regional cooperation and
regional public goods.

To address the social impacts of the global financial crisis, the High-Level Forum on Reducing
Vulnerability in the Face of Crisis was held in February 2009 at the ASEAN Secretariat. Attended
by relevant government officials from the ASEAN Plus Three Countries and representatives from
various international organisations, the Forum came up with a number of recommendations to be
undertaken at both regional and national levels. As a follow up to the Forum, the ASEAN
Assessment on the Social Impact of the Global Financial Crisis will be conducted in the second
half of 2009 with the support of AusAID.

In addressing issues pertaining to rural development and poverty eradication and in narrowing
the development gap in the region, a more concerted effort by Member States in the spirit of
“ASEAN Help-ASEAN” has been stressed. Such initiatives would include documenting best
practices and challenges of ASEAN Member States in implementing their respective policies and
programmes on rural development and poverty eradication to facilitate information sharing
among Member States.

Various initiatives carried out under this sector mainly involve promoting community-driven
activities and people-to-people interactions aimed at narrowing the development gap in the
region. These include (i) the ASEAN Rural Youth Volunteers Movement to bring together youth
professional volunteers from the region to support rural communities in their development
efforts, (ii) ASEAN Plus Three Village Leaders Exchange Programme in building the capacity of
village leaders among Member States in promoting development in rural areas through building
of networks, enhancing knowledge through study visits and exchanging of experiences, and (iii)
the sharing of Thailand’s best practices on the Baan Mankong Programme, which is a citywide
“Cities without Slums” housing development programme, and other grass roots economic
development and poverty alleviation programmes, such the One Tambon One Product (OTOP),
Urban Community and Village Fund (UCVF) and the Sufficiency Economy Fund.

ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (AMRDPE)

ASEAN’s efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the region continued
unabated in the year under review. At the 14th ASEAN Summit held in Thailand in March 2009,
the ASEAN Leaders, in the Joint Declaration on the Attainment of the MDGs in ASEAN, called for
the development of a Roadmap on the MDGs. The Roadmap would serve as a framework for
collective action among ASEAN Member States to achieve the MDGs focusing on five key areas,
namely advocacy and linkages, knowledge, resources, expertise and regional cooperation and
regional public goods.
To address the social impacts of the global financial crisis, the High-Level Forum on Reducing
Vulnerability in the Face of Crisis was held in February 2009 at the ASEAN Secretariat. Attended
by relevant government officials from the ASEAN Plus Three Countries and representatives from
various international organisations, the Forum came up with a number of recommendations to be
undertaken at both regional and national levels. As a follow up to the Forum, the ASEAN
Assessment on the Social Impact of the Global Financial Crisis will be conducted in the second
half of 2009 with the support of AusAID.

In addressing issues pertaining to rural development and poverty eradication and in narrowing
the development gap in the region, a more concerted effort by Member States in the spirit of
“ASEAN Help-ASEAN” has been stressed. Such initiatives would include documenting best
practices and challenges of ASEAN Member States in implementing their respective policies and
programmes on rural development and poverty eradication to facilitate information sharing
among Member States.

Various initiatives carried out under this sector mainly involve promoting community-driven
activities and people-to-people interactions aimed at narrowing the development gap in the
region. These include (i) the ASEAN Rural Youth Volunteers Movement to bring together youth
professional volunteers from the region to support rural communities in their development
efforts, (ii) ASEAN Plus Three Village Leaders Exchange Programme in building the capacity of
village leaders among Member States in promoting development in rural areas through building
of networks, enhancing knowledge through study visits and exchanging of experiences, and (iii)
the sharing of Thailand’s best practices on the Baan Mankong Programme, which is a citywide
“Cities without Slums” housing development programme, and other grass roots economic
development and poverty alleviation programmes, such the One Tambon One Product (OTOP),
Urban Community and Village Fund (UCVF) and the Sufficiency Economy Fund.

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (AMMST)

Science, technology and innovation can be powerful determinants and enablers of economic
development, educational programmes and protection of the environment. This view is shared by
the ASEAN Leaders who have recognised science and technology (S&T) as a key factor in
sustaining economic growth, enhancing community well-being and promoting integration in
ASEAN. The Leaders have envisioned that by 2020 that ASEAN will be technology competitive,
competent in strategic and enabling technologies, with an adequate pool of technologically
qualified and trained manpower, and strong networks of scientific and technological institution
and centres of excellence.

To push forward to build a strong S&T base for ASEAN as a single integrated economy, and to
ensure ASEAN to remain globally competitive, ASEAN Member Countries have to move up the
technology ladder and focus on enhancing their capability for technological innovation in many
areas. This task, however, is not easy as ASEAN, a grouping of ten developing countries with
great variance in the level of science and technology capability, has to move the cooperation
forward more vigourusly and promote deeper integration. ASEAN must also promote greater
awareness of its people of the S&T activities and its roles and contributions towards sustainable
economic development and provide ways and means to innovate. The involvement of specific
elements in ASEAN community such as private sector in S&T undertakings, especially in research
and technology development and commercialisation of technologies must also be promoted.

To ensure that the S&T cooperation in ASEAN remains relevant and supportive to the directives of
the ASEAN Leaders and S&T Ministers, a series of Plans of Action in Science and Technology have
been developed since the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST) was established
in 1978. The most recent Plan: The Action Plan of Action on Science and Technology (APAST)
2007-2011 was endorsed by the ASEAN S&T Ministers in February 2007. The Plan was developed
taking into account the various directives and initiative of the ASEAN Leaders (e.g. Vientiane
Action Programme), and S&T Ministers, Committee on Science and Technology (COST) and the
national S&T plans in the ASEAN Member Countries. The Plan, which identifies 6 thrusts and 24
supporting actions, essentially provides appropriate guidelines for identification and formulation
of programmes and projects to achieve better coordination and cooperation to strengthen the
capabilities of S&T in ASEAN.

The current S&T cooperation in ASEAN focuses on nine programme areas, namely (i) food science
and technology (ii) biotechnology, (iii) meteorology and geophysics, (iv) marine science and
technology, (v) non-conventional energy research, (vi) microelectronics and information
technology, (vii) material science and technology, (viii) space technology and applications, and
(ix) S&T infrastructure and resources development. To coordinate and implement activities in
each area, a Sub-Committee is established.

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD)

ASEAN recognises that despite its economic achievements, socio-economic disparities still exist.
Much work has to be done to uplift the quality of life of the socially vulnerable groups in the
region. In this context, the Declaration of the Bali Concord II by ASEAN Leaders during the ASEAN
Summit of 2003 committed the ASEAN Community to fostering cooperation in social
development aimed at raising the standard of living of disadvantaged groups and the rural
population, and seek the active involvement of all sectors of society, in particular women, youth,
and local communities. ASEAN also puts emphasis on the need to address issues relating to the
greying of populations in the region, as the issues do not only need social responses, but could
also have economic implications.

ASEAN cooperation in the area of social welfare and development continues its effort in
addressing social risks faced by children, women, the elderly and persons with disabilities. Under
its social welfare and development work programme of 2003 – 2006, ASEAN has completed some
activities addressing concerns for older persons, early child care and development, and people
with disability; and in building GO-NGO partnership.

In December 2007, the work programme of the ASEAN cooperation in social welfare and
development for 2007 – 2010 was issued. The new work programme highlights three strategies
to bring together ASEAN member countries in a regional context to address social welfare, family
and children’s issues. These strategies include capacity building in human resources,
documentation of standards and benchmarks for quality services, and partnership and inter-
sectoral collaboration.

All activities undertaken under the ASEAN cooperation on social welfare and development come
under the purview of the Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD).
The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting for Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD), which meets
once every three years, oversees the overall work under the cooperation. In addition, under the
framework of ASEAN cooperation with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (Plus Three
countries) the ASEAN Plus Three Meeting for Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD+3) was
established in 2004. The AMMSWD+3 is convened back-to-back with the AMMSWD and the
SOMSWD+3 is convened back-to-back with the SOMSWD.

ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW)

ASEAN leaders recognise and reaffirm the importance of women and their participation in
development. ASEAN Member Countries have been supportive of efforts to promote the status of
women and have participated actively in the regional and international arena pertaining to
women’s advancement.

Efforts towards establishing an ASEAN involvement, as a region, in women’s issues began during
the ASEAN Women Leaders’ Conference held in 1975. The ASEAN Sub-Committee on Women
(ASW) was established in 1976 and was renamed the ASEAN Women’s Programme (AWP) in
1981. To give a fresh impetus to the on-going ASEAN cooperation on women’s issues, this
sectoral body was restructured into the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) in 2002. The
coordination and monitoring of the implementation of ASEAN’s key regional priorities and
cooperation in women’s issues and concerns are carried out by the ACW which meets regularly
every year.

The recognition of women in ASEAN and the commitment to the advancement of women are
clearly reflected in the Declaration on the Advancement of Women in ASEAN which was adopted
by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in 1988. The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against
Women in the ASEAN Region, adopted by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in 2004, is the second
declaration recognising important concerns for women. It also marks the first time that all ten
ASEAN Member Countries are committed to this cause at the regional level.

ASEAN cooperation on women is guided by two operational documents:

The Work Plan for Women’s Advancement and Gender Equality (2005-2010), which has its roots
in the 1988 Declaration on the Advancement of Women in ASEAN.
The Work Plan to Operationalise the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women
(2006-2010), which builds on existing national efforts, moves forward the priorities of the other
Work Plan and integrates all relevant priorities and measures into a consolidated action plan on
violence against women.
The strong link in government and non-government partnerships is illustrated in, among others,
the close partnership between the ACW and the ASEAN Confederation on Women’s Organisations
(ACWO). The ACW has also established close partnerships with a number of key international
organisations in working for gender equality and advancement, and eliminating violence and
discrimination against women. These organisations include CIDA, UNDP and UNIFEM and a
framework of cooperation was signed with UNIFEM in 1996.

ASEAN Member Countries have achieved various accomplishments in addressing women’s

issues. The ACW has convened different regional workshops, seminars, training sessions and
consultative meetings that provided platforms for government officials, civil society
organisations, professionals and other stakeholders to exchange views, share experiences and
build commitments and a common understanding on various gender issues.

The ASEAN-High Level Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming within the Context of CEDAW, BPFA and
the MDGs which was held in November 2006 is the most prominent example. During the High
Level Meeting, the Joint Statement and Commitment to Implement Gender Mainstreaming was
adopted.

Various publications and periodic regional reports were also produced. These include:

The Thesaurus on Women in Development (1996);

The First Regional Report on the Advancement of Women (1997);
The Second Regional Report on the Advancement of Women (2002);
The Third Regional Report on the Advancement of Women (2007).

ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY)

The 12th ASEAN Summit’s Cebu Declaration Towards One Caring and Sharing Community
encourages greater institutional collaboration in promoting ASEAN awareness particularly among
the younger generation, and promotes the increased involvement of ASEAN youth and students
in national and regional activities to give them an opportunity to make valuable contributions
towards the achievement of the ASEAN Community. During the Summit, the Leaders agreed to
prepare ASEAN youth for regional leadership and to increase the competitiveness of the peoples
of Southeast Asia through education.
The Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) urges increased participation of youth in the productive
workforce, and encourages their entrepreneurship and employability, leadership and regional
awareness. Priorities for youth cooperation are highlighted in the VAP’s section on the ASCC,
under the strategic thrusts for “Building a Community of Caring Societies”, “Managing the Social
Impact of Economic Integration” and “Promoting an ASEAN Identity”.

ASEAN cooperation on youth is overseen at the Ministerial level by an ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
on Youth which meets once every two years. The implementation of the programmes and
activities for youth matters is carried out by the ASEAN Senior Officials on Youth (SOMY), which
reports to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY). The last Ministerial Meeting, the
AMMY V, was held in Singapore on 26 April 2007.

Youth cooperation in ASEAN is directed by the Work Programme on Preparing ASEAN Youth for
Sustainable Development, which was considered and adopted during the AMMY IV in September
2003. The Work Programme serves as the major channel for pursuing ASEAN cooperation in
youth development, and outlines the following four priority areas: (i) Policy Development; (ii)
Promoting ASEAN Awareness and Civic Responsibility; (iii) Promoting Employability of Youth, and
(iv) Information Exchange / Promoting Partnership.

Many activities were conducted to implement the Work Programme. The ASEAN Youth Day
Meeting (AYDM) and the ASEAN Youth Day Award were held in past years. The following activities
were organised in 2006:

The 13th AYDM was held in Kuala Lumpur on 6-7 November 2006, incorporating the theme
“ASEAN and Young People”.
The second phase of the “ASEAN Youth Leadership Development Programme” was organized by
Malaysia on 25-29 March 2007, promoting the concept of youth leadership, policy formulation
and youth volunteers.
The “Regional Capacity Building Workshop to Promote Youth-Initiated (ICT) Enterprises” was
organized by Myanmar in Yangon on 7-9 March 2007 and was aimed at facilitating capacity
building for government officials and young entrepreneurs to promote youth entrepreneurship.
For sharing information, the Youth@ASEAN Website (www.aseanyouth.org) was set up to link
country-based youth websites.
The Youth Caucus held in Singapore in April 2007, provided the opportunity for youth
representatives to present their discussions to the Ministers on the topics of (i) Education, (ii)
Environment, (iii) Employment & Entrepreneurship, and (iv) Engagement in Community. The
inclusion of the Youth Caucus in the AMMY V brought forth youth perspectives through a dialogue
with the Ministers.