34th ASEAN Summit
21st – 23rd June 2019
History
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
At the Laem Thaen, Bang Saen Beach, five statesmen from five neighboring lands huddled together, hammering out the final text of a short and simple document containing just five articles which marked a new beginning for their countries in the region.
They sat down together to make history on 8 August, 1967, in the main hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs building. Their speech and messages went far beyond, for they represented their countries and the dreams and aspirations of the five hundred million people who called them homes.
“….. We cannot survive for long as independent but isolated people unless we think and act together and unless we prove by deeds that we belong to a family of Southeast Asian nations…..” Tun Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.
“The fragmented economies of Southeast Asia, with each country pursuing its own limited objectives and dissipating its meager resources in the overlapping or even conflicting endeavors of sister states carry seeds of weakness… ASEAN therefore could marshal the still untapped potentials of this rich region through more substantial untied action” Narciso Ramos, Phillippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Adam Malik, Presidium Minister for Political Affairs and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia envisioned, “a region which can stand on its own feet, strong enough to defend itself against any negative influence from outside the region.”
- Rajaratnam, Foreign Minister of Republic of Singapore: “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…”
On that day, they signed the Bangkok Declaration which set in motion the establishment of a regional organization known as 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 the posterity the blessings of peace, freedom and posterity.
Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Thanat Khoman who brought up the ASEAN idea to his Malaysian and Indonesian colleagues fourteen months earlier, was the final speaker.
“What we have decided today is only the 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 generation to come can be proud.”
Brunei Darussalam later joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.
AIMS AND PURPOSES
As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:
- To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations;
- To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter;
- To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;
- To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;
- To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;
- To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
- To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
In their relations with one another, the ASEAN Member States have adopted the following fundamental principles, as contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976:
- Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations;
- The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
- Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
- Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
- Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
- Effective cooperation among themselves.
ASEAN COMMUNITY
The ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders on the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN, agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.
At the 9th ASEAN Summit in 2003, the ASEAN Leaders resolved that an ASEAN Community shall be established.
At the 12th ASEAN Summit in January 2007, the Leaders affirmed their strong commitment to accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015 and signed the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.
The ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Each pillar has its own Blueprint, and, together with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Strategic Framework and IAI Work Plan Phase II (2009-2015), they form the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2015.
Priority delivarables, the 34th ASEAN Summit
Political and Security
Future-Oriented
Enhance ASEAN’s Preparedness to Manage Changes that Impact Regional Peace and Security
- Enhance ASEAN’s ability in addressing different security challenges such as terrorism, transnational crime and cybersecurity, including by launching the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecuriy Capacity-Building Centre (AJCCBC in Thailand)
- Strengthen ASEAN’s capability to conduct preventive diplomacy
Effective Partnerships
Promote Effective Partnerships to Address Security Challenges
- Promote enhanced border management cooperation within ASEAN
- Promote constructive and inclusive maritime cooperation
- Promote defence cooperation and defence diplomacy
Sustainability
Promote Sustainable Security in the Region
- Advance cooperation for sustainable security in ASEAN and the region by reinforcing strategic trust
- Promote the role of the ASEAN Center of Military Medicine
Economic Community
Equip ASEAN in preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
- ASEAN Digital Integration Framework Action Plan
- ASEAN Innovation Roadmap
- Guideline on Skilled Labour/Professional Services Development in Response to 4IR
- ASEAN Declaration on Industrial Transformation to Industry 4.0 Digitalisation of ASEAN Micro Enterprises
- Digitalisation of ASEAN Micro Enterprises
Enhance ASEAN’s connectivity through Trade, Investment, and Tourism
- ASEAN Single Window (ASW)
- Local Currency Settlement Framework
- ASEAN Infrastructure Financing Machanisms
- A Comprehensive ASEAN Region of Gastronomy Official Guideline
- The Conclusion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2019
Enable Sustainable Economic Development in ASEAN
- Promoting Sustainable Fisheries through ASEAN Cooperation
- Roadmap for ASEAN Sustainable Capital Market
Socio-Cultural Community
Future-Oriented
- Promote Future-Oriented Action for Human Security
- Establish ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation
- Disaster Emergency Logistic System for ASEAN: DELSA
- Advocate for ASEAN Network for Microbial Utilisation
- Develop human capital through programmes and activities for life-long education
- Initiate programs to address malnutrition, stunting and obesity
- Organise the 20th ASEAN Conferences on Civil Service Matters under the theme “Accelerating Agile ASEAN Civil Service”
Connectivity and Partnerships
- Promote People-to-People Connectivity and Partnerships
- Organise ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum
- Promote ASEAN Year of Culture in 2019 and Development of ASEAN Cultural Centre
- Establish ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare: ATCSW
- Strengthen ASEAN University Network: AUN
Sustainability
Promote Socio-Cultural Sustainability in the Region
- Enhance capacity of ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue
- Organise the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Marine Debris
- Nominate Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, Hat Chao Mai. Koh Libong Wildlife Sanctuary as an ASEAN Heritage Park
- Monitor the progress of implementation of ASEAN Transboundary Haze Free Roadmap
Videos
Advancing Together as One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=65&v=eWnHxA2vqZ0
ASEAN Will Go Far
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=31&v=xJ8yR0f4xGU
Source: https://www.asean2019.go.th/en/
