ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations

• Brunei Darussalam
• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Lao PDR
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Viet Nam

Background

With the need for joint response to rapid changes in the global world, such as the outbreak of Viet Nam War and the communist expansion in Indochina, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on August 8, 1967, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Overview of ASEAN

• Population

  660 million

• Area

  4.48 million ㎢

• GDP

  USD 3,173 trillion

• Trade Volume

  USD 3,560 trillion (export: USD 1,849 trillion; import: USD 1,711 trillion)

※ Source: Population, area, GDP, trade volume (World Bank, IMF)

ASEAN flag

The ASEAN emblem represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN. The colors of the flag—blue, red, white and yellow—represent the main colors of the flags of all the ASEAN Member States. The blue represents peace and stability. Red depicts courage and dynamism, white shows purity and yellow symbolizes prosperity.
The stalks of padi in the center of the emblem represent the dream of ASEAN’s Founding Fathers for an ASEAN comprising all the countries in Southeast Asia, bound together in friendship and solidarity. The circle represents the unity of ASEAN.

Dialogue partners

• Dialogue partners: Korea, US, Japan, China, Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, EU (10 countries)
• Sectoral dialogue partners: Pakistan, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey
• Non-country dialogue partner: United Nations Development Project (UNDP)
• Development partners: Germany, Chile, France, Italy

※ France and Italy approved as development partners during the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in September 2020.

4 Main Visions

A Concert of Southeast Asian Nations; a Partnership in Dynamic Development; a Community of Caring Societies; and an Outward-Looking ASEAN

ASEAN Community

• The ASEAN Community (AC) was formally launched on December 31, 2015, comprised of three pillar communities. The three communities include ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).
• ASEAN Community Vision 2025
  • - ASEAN pursues a rules-based, people-oriented, and people-centred ASEAN community
  • - This community guarantees the ASEAN people enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms, higher quality of life and the benefits of community building
  • - ASEAN envisions a peaceful, stable and resilient Community, and an outward-looking region within a global community of nations