The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok by five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Brunei joined the organization in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. Thus, ASEAN currently has 10 member states. Papua New Guinea has special observer status.

The Bangkok Declaration on the Establishment of ASEAN defines the statutory goals of the Association as promoting the development of socio-economic and cultural cooperation of member countries, strengthening peace and stability in Southeast Asia. The legal basis for relations between the countries of the Association is the ASEAN Declaration of Accord of 1976, the Second Declaration of ASEAN Accord (“Bali Accord-2”) of 2003, as well as the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (Bali Treaty) of 1976, which has allowed since 1987 possibility of accession of extra-regional states. China and India joined it in October 2003, Japan and Pakistan in July 2004, Russia and South Korea in November 2004, New Zealand and Mongolia in July 2005, and Australia in December 2005.

The initial role of the Association was political rather than economic. Since its inception, the most significant agreements have been concluded by member countries in the field of political and security cooperation, including the 1971 Declaration defining Southeast Asia as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the ASEAN Declaration. They were aimed at maintaining peace within the region and building a community free from the influence of external forces. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation is a kind of code of international relations in the region in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

In 2004, in order to strengthen the organizational and legal basis for the activities of the Association, it was decided to develop the ASEAN Charter. On November 20, 2007, during the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Association, the ASEAN Charter was signed by the leaders of the Ten. Its adoption became the starting point of a new stage in the evolution of ASEAN, its transformation into a full-fledged regional organization with international legal personality. To do this, the Charter must be ratified by all member countries of the Association.

In the economic sphere, the Association countries are pursuing close interaction and liberalization in the Southeast Asian subregion on the basis of the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the Framework Agreement on the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) and the Industrial Cooperation Scheme, which entered into force on January 1, 2002 ASEAN (AIKO).

During the 13th ASEAN Summit on November 20 in Singapore, the Plan for the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 was signed. The document provides for a set of measures to liberalize and harmonize the policies of the “ten” countries in trade, customs and tariffs, investment, financial, competition, production, as well as in the services and employment sectors.

Today ASEAN, with its 570 million population, total GDP of 1.1 trillion. US dollars, foreign trade turnover of 1.4 trillion. US dollars and economic growth rates that are faster than the world average, it represents the center of integration processes in the Asia-Pacific region and the new balance of power emerging there.

An important place in the foreign policy activities of the Association is occupied by the work to create a zone free of nuclear weapons in Southeast Asia. The corresponding treaty was signed in Bangkok in 1995 and came into force in 1997. ASEAN countries are seeking its recognition by nuclear powers and are currently holding consultations with the Five, including Russia, on finalizing the text of the Protocol on their accession to the Treaty

Name:

Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN

Flag/Coat of Arms:

Status:

regional political, economic and cultural organization

Structural units:

The highest body of ASEAN is the summit of leaders (heads of state and government) of member countries, which has been held annually since 2001. The summit usually lasts 3 days and is accompanied by meetings with the organization’s partners in the region. The governing and coordinating body is the annual meetings of foreign ministers (FMIS), which originate from the period when summits were held every three years and the CMFA was held a year earlier, preparing for the future meeting. Also, meetings of the ministers of finance and periodically the ministers of economy and agriculture are held annually, but their most important decisions are subject to approval by the ministers of foreign affairs. Day-to-day management is carried out by a standing committee consisting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the presiding country and the ambassadors of the remaining member countries. The Permanent Secretariat is located in Jakarta and is headed by the Secretary General (as of May 2006 - Singaporean H. E. Ong Keng Yong). Work is also carried out in 29 committees and 122 working groups, which allows for more than 300 events to be held annually within ASEAN.

Activity:

According to the Bangkok Declaration, the goals of the organization are: “(i) to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through a common endeavor... in strengthening the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian countries, and (ii) to establish peace and stability in the region... through... adherence to the principles of the UN Charter."

Official languages:

English

Participating countries:

Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines

Story:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was formed on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok (Thailand). The ASEAN Declaration was then signed by five founding countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines).

The purpose of creating the new association was declared to be cooperation in the economic, social, cultural and other areas of the participating countries, as well as strengthening peace and stability in Southeast Asia.

The ASEAN Declaration stipulated that the association would be open to all Southeast Asian states.

Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. These countries, together with the founding countries, are the so-called “ten” of ASEAN.

Papua New Guinea and East Timor have ASEAN observer status. The issue of admitting East Timor to the association is currently being considered.

The legal basis for the relations between the association countries is the ASEAN Declaration of Accord of 1976, the Second Declaration of ASEAN Accord (“Bali Accord-2”) of 2003, as well as the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (Bali Treaty) of 1976, which has allowed since 1987 the possibility of joining the association of extra-regional states.

In October 2003, China and India joined ASEAN, in July 2004 - Japan and Pakistan, in November 2004 - Russia and South Korea, in July 2005 - New Zealand and Mongolia, in December 2005 - Australia, in July 2009 year - USA, in July 2010 - Turkey and Canada.

In 2004, in order to strengthen the organizational and legal basis for the association’s activities, it was decided to develop the ASEAN Charter. On November 20, 2007, during the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore, the ASEAN Charter was signed by the leaders of the Ten. This document sets out the general principles of the association's activities.

Nevertheless, its adoption became the starting point of a new stage in the development of ASEAN, its transformation from a semi-formal association into a full-fledged regional organization with international legal personality. On December 15, 2008, the ASEAN Charter came into force.

ASEAN has developed a structure of governing mechanisms, including summits, ministerial meetings and meetings of senior officials in certain areas of cooperation, which are headed by representatives of the country chairing the association. They change annually in alphabetical order.

The highest body of ASEAN is the meetings of heads of state and government, which take place twice a year (usually in spring and autumn).

In 2003, the leaders of the association approved the concept of the ASEAN Community, which provides for the creation of a Political and Security Community, an Economic Community and a Socio-Cultural Community within the association by 2020 (this date was later postponed to 2015). The Vientiane Program of Action, adopted at the 10th ASEAN Summit in November 2004, is aimed at its implementation. The document fixes the achievement of closer integration and a parallel reduction in the gap in the levels of development of its “old” and “new” members as the priority areas of activity of the “ten” for the foreseeable future. To solve this problem, the ASEAN Integration Initiative (AII) was launched in 2000.

In the economic sphere, the association countries are pursuing a policy of deepening intra-ASEAN integration and trade liberalization on the basis of the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), signed in 1992 and entered into force on January 1, 2002, the framework agreement on the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) and the scheme ASEAN Industrial Cooperation (AICO). At the same time, ASEAN is moving along the path of trade liberalization with leading non-regional partners. The Association has signed free trade agreements with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, as well as a general agreement with Australia and New Zealand. By 2024, it is planned to create a free trade area of ​​ASEAN plus China, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

Efforts to create a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Southeast Asia occupy an important place in the association's foreign policy activities.

The corresponding agreement was signed in Bangkok in 1995 and came into force in 1997. ASEAN countries are seeking guarantees of compliance with the provisions of this treaty by nuclear powers, including Russia.

ASEAN acts as one of the system-forming elements of the emerging system of security and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. A system of so-called “dialogues” arose around it. Full-scale partners in dialogue with ASEAN are 9 countries (Australia, India, Canada, China, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, USA, Japan), as well as the EU. The main areas of interaction are determined at the annual meetings of ASEAN Foreign Ministers and dialogue partners.

The most advanced dialogue partners of ASEAN - China, Japan, and the Republic of Kazakhstan - regularly hold meetings with ASEAN members at the highest level. ASEAN-India summits have been convened since 2002. Association summits were organized on an ad hoc basis with Australia, New Zealand, the European Union and the UN. On December 13, 2005, the first Russia-ASEAN summit was held in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), the second meeting was held on October 30, 2010 in Hanoi (Vietnam). ASEAN-US summits have been held since November 2009.

The ASEAN dialogue partnership system served as the basis for creating a mechanism for in-depth interaction between the association and the East Asian “troika” (China, Japan, Kazakhstan) in the “10 + 3” format. In November 2008, a decision was made (came into force in March 2010) to create a $120 billion “Asian Currency Reserve Fund” to combat financial crises. 80% of them are financed by the East Asian “troika”.

Since 2005, East Asia Summits (EAS) have been held once a year in conjunction with the association's autumn summit meetings. The EAC currently unites 10 ASEAN countries, as well as Australia, India, China, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the USA and Japan. Russia's official accession to this forum (simultaneously with the United States) took place during the 5th East Asia Summit in Hanoi in October 2010.

In April 2010, at the initiative of Vietnam, a decision was made to create a mechanism for ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meetings with eight main dialogue partners, including Russia (“ADMM plus”), the first meeting of which took place on October 11-13, 2010 in Hanoi.

Despite its successful functioning, the development of ASEAN is hampered by the emergence of bilateral conflicts between some member states of the association. Thus, in 2012, the annual ASEAN week (a series of meetings at the level of foreign ministers of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their dialogue partners), held this year in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, ended without the adoption of a joint communiqué. This is the first time in the 45 years of the organization's history. The stumbling block was the conflict between China, an ASEAN dialogue partner, and the Philippines and Vietnam over disputed territories in the South China Sea.

During ASEAN events, the United States tried to promote the process of creating a “Code of Conduct in the South China Sea,” which would oblige all countries that accepted it, including China, to peacefully, and in some cases collectively, resolve problems arising from territorial disputes. Observers note that the United States has been paying more and more attention in recent years to strengthening its own influence in Southeast Asia. The region is turning into the main arena of confrontation between China and the United States. And ASEAN is playing an increasingly important role in maintaining stability in Southeast Asia.

The legal basis for relations between the “ten” countries is the three ASEAN declarations of consent - 1976, 2003 and 2011, as well as the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (Bali Treaty) of 1976, which has allowed the possibility of accession of extra-regional states since 1987. In October 2003, China and India joined it, in July 2004 - Japan and Pakistan, in November 2004 - Russia and South Korea, in July 2005 - New Zealand and Mongolia, in December 2005 - Australia, in July 2009 year - USA, in July 2010 - Turkey and Canada.

According to the ASEAN Charter, the highest body of the association is the meetings of heads of state and government (summits), which take place twice a year (usually in spring and autumn). The current management of the Association's activities is carried out by the ASEAN Coordination Council, composed of foreign ministers. Meetings of relevant ministers and senior officials on specific areas of interaction are convened on a regular basis.

The ASEAN Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, operates in Jakarta. Currently (2013-2017) this post is held by Le Luong Minh (Vietnam).

In order to improve interaction, a Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN was created on the basis of the Association Secretariat, to which each “ten” state appointed its own permanent representative with the rank of ambassador.

The ASEAN Chairmanship changes annually. The transition of presidencies is carried out based on the alphabetical order of countries in English. In 2014, Myanmar served as chairman, in 2015 - Malaysia, and in 2016 Laos assumed the chairmanship.

In 2003, the leaders of the association approved the concept of the ASEAN Community, which provides for the creation of a Political and Security Community, an Economic Community and a Social and Cultural Community within the Association by 2020 (this date was later postponed to 2015).

Formally, the agreement on the Economic Community - one of the three "pillars" of ASEAN, along with the political and security community and the socio-cultural community - came into force on December 31, 2015. However, experts believe that the actual process of creating such a community could take several years. By 31 December 2015, many countries had introduced new laws ensuring Community principles on their territory.

ASEAN acts as one of the system-forming elements of the emerging architecture of security and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. A number of mechanisms and structures are concentrated around it, based on the system of so-called “dialogues” of the Association with the leading states of the world, which originated in the 1970s. Full-scale partners in dialogue with ASEAN are 9 countries (Australia, India, Canada, China, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, USA, Japan), as well as the EU. The Association's "sector" partner for dialogue is Pakistan. The main areas of interaction are determined at the annual meetings of ASEAN Foreign Ministers and dialogue partners, which are held in conjunction with meetings of the Association's Foreign Ministers within the framework of the so-called Post-Ministerial Conferences in the "10 plus 1" format.

The ASEAN dialogue partnership system served as the basis for the creation of a mechanism for in-depth interaction between the Association and the East Asian “troika” (China, Japan, ROK) in the “10 plus 3” format, which was formalized in 1999.

Since 2005, once a year, in connection with the autumn meetings of the Association at the highest level, East Asian Summits (EAS) are held in the ASEAN plus 6 format (PRC, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand). At the 5th EAC summit on October 30, 2010, Russia and the United States officially joined this mechanism.

The first EAC summit in the ASEAN Plus 8 format took place on November 19, 2011 on the island of Bali, Indonesia.

In April 2010, at the initiative of Vietnam, a decision was made to create a mechanism for the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meetings with the eight main dialogue partners, including Russia (ADMM Plus).

Since 1994, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on security has been operating, in which 27 countries participate - the Ten member states, its dialogue partners and a number of other Asia-Pacific states, as well as the EU.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

ASEAN: reasons and goals of creation, stages of the integration process. What does ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, ASEAN+6 mean?

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was formed in 1967. The ASEAN Declaration was then signed by the five founding countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines).

The purpose of creating the new association was declared to be cooperation in the economic, social, cultural and other areas of the participating countries, as well as strengthening peace and stability in Southeast Asia.

The centripetal forces of Asian integration are: a strategically important geographical location at the intersection of world trade routes, the transition to a liberal model of building a market economy, which implies the admission of foreign capital and the export-oriented nature of the restructured economy.

ASEAN countries occupy a strategic position on the route from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, being at the crossroads connecting the Pacific Basin with the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The group has large reserves of natural resources.

The adopted ASEAN Declaration set the following goals:

• · acceleration of economic development, social and cultural progress of the countries of Southeast Asia;
• · strengthening peace and regional stability;
• · expansion of active cooperation and mutual assistance of the participating countries in the field of economics, culture, science, technology and personnel training:
• · development of more effective cooperation in the field of industry and agriculture;
• · expanding mutual trade and increasing the living standards of citizens of the participating countries;
• · establishing strong and mutually beneficial cooperation with other international and regional organizations.

Features of the development of regional economic integration within ASEAN are determined by a number of factors.

• · High dynamics of economic growth and political stability in the region.
• · Uniformity (but differentiation) of the economies of the participating countries and the resulting difficulties in expanding mutual trade.
• · Participation in integration processes in states with different levels of economic development and different political systems.

As a result of the crises, many problems aggravated and came to light, the resolution of which turned out to be impossible without financial integration. In the last decade, the countries of Southeast Asia have been characterized by a completely different integration policy in the field of finance. Its main difference from the previous one is the involvement of new countries in South and East Asia: financial integration is no longer limited to the Southeast Asian region alone. This expansion of integration processes in the financial sector is manifested by the creation of new organizational structures, such as Asean+3 (Japan, China and the Republic of Korea) or Asean+6 (India, Australia and New Zealand are also added to these). These structures are empowered to intervene in the field of currency and financial management.

ASEAN; English Association of South East Asian Nations - ASEAN)

founded in 1967 as part of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Brunei was adopted in 1984. The goals are economic, social, cultural and political cooperation. From ser. 80s Steps are being taken to create a zone of peace and neutrality in the region, as well as a nuclear-free zone. In the 1990s, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam joined the organization. ASEAN deals with the problems of economic and social development of the region, attracting investment to poor countries, developing new technologies, and combating the drug mafia.

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ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN)

(Association of South-East Asian Nations - ASEAN) - formed on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok. It included Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, then Brunei Darussalam (in 1984), Vietnam (in 1995), Laos and Myanmar (in 1997), Cambodia (in 1999). Papua New Guinea has special observer status.

1) Regulatory framework. The main documents of ASEAN are the ASEAN Bangkok Declaration on August 8, 1967, the ASEAN Concord Declaration on February 24, 1976, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (Treaty of Bali) on February 24, 1976, and its two additional Protocols. Currently, ASEAN has developed a mechanism for the possible accession of extra-regional powers, including Russia, to the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (SEA), by joining Protocol II of the Treaty.

The economic activities of the Association are based on the Agreement establishing the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) of 1992, the ASEAN Vision 2020: Partnership for Dynamic Development program of 1997, the Hanoi Action Plan of 1998, the framework agreement on the Zone Investment in ASEAN (AIA) 1998 and Industrial Cooperation Scheme (AICO), Hanoi Declaration on Closing the Development Gap to Achieve Closer ASEAN Integration, 23 July 2001.

An important place in the activities of the Association is occupied by the work to create a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone in Southeast Asia, on the basis of the Declaration on a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (November 27, 1971) and the Treaty on a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone in Southeast Asia (December 15, 1995 G.). In the 21st century, ASEAN states are holding consultations with nuclear powers, including Russia, to finalize the text of the Protocol on their accession to the Treaty.

2) The statutory goals of ASEAN in the Bangkok Declaration define the promotion of the development of socio-economic and cultural cooperation of member states, the strengthening of peace and stability in Southeast Asia.

3) Basic organs. The highest body of ASEAN is the meeting of heads of state and government, held every 3 years. In the period between official meetings, informal summits are held annually.

The governing and coordinating body of the Association is the annual meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs (MFA), which are held on a rotational basis. If necessary, special Council of Ministers may be convened. Meetings of economic ministers are also held every year.

The current leadership of ASEAN is carried out by a standing committee chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the host state of the next Ministerial Council. Members of the Standing Committee, in addition to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the host state or his representative, are ambassadors of ASEAN member states accredited to the state. The task of the Standing Committee is to carry out the work of the Association in the period between CMFAs. At the same time, there are ad hoc committees (“to the occasion”) and standing committees of experts and official representatives on special issues.

There is a permanent Secretariat headed by the Secretary General in Jakarta. The Secretariat coordinates the activities of ASEAN mechanisms and structures. The Secretary General is elected for 5 years. He is obliged to be present personally or through his representatives at all events held within ASEAN, has the authority to speak on behalf of ASEAN and to contact other international organizations and governments. Through the Secretary General, contacts and coordination between various ASEAN bodies are also carried out. He is responsible for monitoring the implementation of decisions and initiatives adopted, and explaining the directives of the Standing Committee. It acts as a depository for ASEAN documents, submits an annual report to the meeting of foreign ministers, etc.

The ASEAN Secretariat coordinates the activities of 11 specialized committees. In total, the organization hosts over 300 events annually.

Each participating state has a National Secretariat, which conducts the work of the Association on behalf of its state and assists in holding annual or special meetings of foreign ministers, the activities of the Standing Committee and other committees that may be organized on special issues.

In recent years, there have been growing calls within ASEAN for a departure from some of the Association's founding principles. In particular, this concerns the lifting of the “ban” on discussing those internal political problems of individual members of the “ten” that affect the interests of the entire group (the so-called “constructive intervention”). Under the pressure of such sentiments, at the Manila (1999) ASEAN summit, a decision was made to create an ASEAN “troika” at the level of foreign ministers to facilitate the settlement of internal political problems of member states. However, neither the composition of the “troika” nor the mechanism of its activities have yet been determined.

As part of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, aimed at resolving disputes and conflict situations in the region, a Supreme Council was created. According to the Rules of Procedure of the High Council adopted in July 2001 during ASEAN events, its composition should include representatives at the ministerial level from each ASEAN state, as well as one representative at the ministerial level from states outside the Southeast Asian region directly involved in the dispute (in case of accession of such states to the Bali Treaty). The Supreme Council is headed by a Chairman, elected only from representatives of ASEAN states. The responsibility of the High Council is to study a dispute or conflict situation and make recommendations on ways to resolve it, such as good offices, mediation, investigation or conciliation. In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the settlement mechanism is initiated only by the state directly involved in the dispute, by sending a written message through diplomatic channels to the Chairman of the Supreme Council and other states parties to the Treaty. The Chairman of the Supreme Council must obtain consent from all parties involved in the dispute to apply the procedure of the Supreme Council. Having received the consent of the parties, the Chairman holds a meeting of the Supreme Council, at which the corresponding decision is made.

The Supreme Council of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia does not operate at the beginning of the 21st century.

The decision-making mechanism in all ASEAN structures is based on the principle of consensus.

4) Dialogue relationships. In the 70s of the twentieth century, a system of dialogue relations between the Association and the leading countries of the world, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region, which maintained active political and economic ties with it, was born. Full-fledged partners in dialogue with ASEAN are Australia, India, Canada, China, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, the USA, Japan and the EU. Pakistan is the sectoral partner of the Association for Dialogue.

Dialogue interaction is ensured by special mechanisms, the main ones being the Joint Cooperation Committees (JCC). They coordinate the activities of various working groups created within the framework of the dialogue. Meetings of senior officials (SFOs) - at the level of deputy foreign ministers) on political issues are held regularly. In addition, each state has ASEAN committees that unite ASEAN ambassadors in the host state. Such ASEAN committees have an advisory function and are intended to exchange information and establish contacts with government agencies.

The practice of dialogue partnership also provides for the creation of a Cooperation Fund at the expense of the dialogue partner state, the funds of which are intended to finance joint projects and programs in the field of trade, economic, scientific, technical, investment, cultural and other interaction, approved by the relevant cooperation committee.

5) Russia-ASEAN Dialogue. Since 1996, Russia has been a full-scale dialogue partner of ASEAN. The Russia-ASEAN dialogue mechanisms include:

Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), whose meetings were held in 1997 (Moscow) and 2000 (Jakarta);

SCS Working Group on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (first session held in Moscow on June 9-10, 1997);

The institution of regular meetings of senior officials (at the level of deputy foreign ministers) on political issues. The first meeting took place in June 1998 in Moscow, the second in October 1999 in Ho Chi Minh City, and the third in April 2002 in Moscow.

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