ABOUT ASEAN

ESTABLISHMENT
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.
Brunei Darussalam then 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:
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;
6. To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
7. 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:
1. 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. Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
5. Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
6. 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.
Please click here for the ASEAN Political-Security Community Video.
Please click here for the ASEAN Economic Community Video.
Please click here for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Video.
Please click here for ASEAN History and Purposes.

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.
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 ASEANs 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 Emblem is the reserved copyright of ASEAN.
A. Use of the ASEAN Emblem
7. The ASEAN Emblem shall be used in a manner that promotes ASEAN and its purposes and
principles. It shall not be used for political purposes or for activities that harm the dignity of
ASEAN.
8. The ASEAN Emblem shall not be used for commercial purposes unless the entities concerned
obtain official approval through the procedures stipulated in Article A.4.

A.1. Use of the ASEAN Emblem by ASEAN Member States

9. ASEAN Member States are encouraged to use the ASEAN Emblem in official functions relating to
ASEAN.
10. The ASEAN Emblem shall be placed to the right of the ASEAN Member States National Symbols,
as seen by the viewer.
A.2. Use of the ASEAN Emblem by the ASEAN Secretariat
11. The ASEAN Secretariat shall use the ASEAN Emblem in the manner considered appropriate by
the Secretary-General which may include the following:
a. Display at the Secretariat buildings and residence of the Secretary-General;
b. Use in its official correspondence as letterhead;
c.

Use as the official seal for the ASEAN Secretariat;

d. Use in its official publications, stationery and souvenirs;

e. Mark or engrave on properties belonging to the ASEAN Secretariat; and
f.

Display at ASEAN official functions.

A.3. Use of the ASEAN Emblem by Entities Associated with ASEAN

12. Entities officially associated with ASEAN as in Annex 2 of the ASEAN Charter may use the
ASEAN Emblem in their official correspondences and meetings.
A.4. Use of the ASEAN Emblem by Other Entities
13. Other entities based in an ASEAN Member State shall submit their request for the use of the
ASEAN Emblem to the ASEAN National Secretariat concerned.
14. Other entities outside the ASEAN region shall submit their request for the use of the ASEAN
Emblem to the Community Relations Division of the ASEAN Secretariat:
Community
The
70
A,
Jakarta
Indonesia
E-mail: public@asean.org

Relations
ASEAN
Jl.

Division
Secretariat
Sisingamangaraja
12110

15. Requests for the use of the ASEAN Emblem shall be submitted in writing, and accompanied with
the following information:
o

organisational profile;

nature and purpose of the proposed activity;

duration of the use of the ASEAN Emblem; and

prototype of the proposed use of the ASEAN Emblem.

16. The ASEAN National Secretariats and 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.
17. Authorisation to use the ASEAN Emblem does not confer on those to whom it is granted any right
of exclusive use, nor does it allow them to appropriate the Emblem or any similar trademark or
logo, either by registration or any other means.
B. Reproduction of the ASEAN Emblem
18. The ASEAN Emblem shall be reproduced in accordance with the Specifications and Colours
indicated in the Annex.
C. Approval of and Amendments to the Guidelines
19. The Guidelines shall be approved by the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC).
20. Any Member State may propose amendments to the Guidelines, which shall be submitted to the
Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) for its consideration and agreed upon by
consensus. The agreed amendments shall be submitted to the ASEAN Coordinating Council
(ACC) for notation, and thereafter come into immediate effect.

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