ASEAN:(ASSOCIATION FOR SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATION) History of ASEAN:- Much of Southeast Asia was colonized by Western powers prior to World War II. During the war Japan took control of the region, but was forced out following the war as Southeast Asia countries pushed for independence. Though they were independent, the countries found that stability was hard to come by, and they soon looked to each other for answers. In 1961 the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand came together to form the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), a precursor to ASEAN. Six years later in 1967 the members of ASA, along with Singapore and Indonesia, created ASEAN, forming a bloc that would push back at the dominating western pressure. Brunei joined in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Burma in 1997 and Cambodia in 1999. Today there are ten member countries of ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.  

AIMS AND PURPOSES 1.       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; 2.       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; 3.       To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields; 4.       To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres; 5.       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;

subversion or coercion. ASEAN Principles According to the group's guiding document, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South East Asia (TAC), there are four fundamental principles members adhere to: Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations. 2) The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion. 3) Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another. 4) Renunciation of the threat or use of force.

In 2003 the group agreed on the pursuit of three pillars, or, "communities:- Security Community: No armed conflict has taken place among ASEAN’s members since its inception four decades ago. Each member has agreed to resolve all conflicts by use of peaceful diplomacy and without use of force. Economic Community: Perhaps the most vital part of ASEAN's quest is to create a free, integrated market in its region, much like that of the European Union. The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) embodies this goal, eliminating virtually all tariffs (taxes on imports or exports) in the region to increase competitiveness and efficiency. The organization is now looking towards China and India to open up their markets in order to create the largest free market area in the world. Socio-cultural Community: To combat the pitfalls of capitalism and free trade, namely, disparity in wealth and job loss, the socio-cultural community focuses on disadvantaged groups such as rural workers, women, and children. Various programs are used to this end, including those for HIV/AIDS, higher education, and sustainable development, among others. The ASEAN scholarship is offered by Singapore to the other nine members, and the University Network is a group of 21 higher education institutes that aid each other in the region.

 Elimination of investment impediments ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Area The ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Area (ACIA) will encourage the free flow of investment within ASEAN. The main principles of the ACIA are as follows:  All industries are to be opened up for investment, with exclusions to be phased out according to schedules  National treatment is granted immediately to ASEAN investors with few exclusions  Elimination of investment impediments  Streamlining of investment process and procedures  Enhancing transparency  Undertaking investment facilitation measures  Full realisation of the ACIA with the removal of temporary exclusion lists in manufacturing agriculture, fisheries, forestry and mining is scheduled by 2010 for most ASEAN members and by 2015 for the CLMV (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam) countries.

What does ASEAN Integration Mean? All barriers to the free flow of goods, services, capital, and skilled labor are removed Tariffs will be eliminated and non-tariff barriers will be gradually phased out Rules and regulations will be simplified and harmonized ASEAN investors will be permitted to invest in sectors formerly closed to foreigners and the services sector will also be opened up Applicable international standards and practices are followed, and policies on intellectual property rights and competition are put in place Regional infrastructure will be more developed with the expansion of transportation, telecommunications and energy linkages The region will become a more level playing field

ASEAN Countries at a Glance