Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), organization established by the Bangkok Declaration (1967), linking the nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Subsequently, Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos (1997), Myanmar (1999), and Cambodia (1999) were admitted. The organization's secretariat is in Jakarta. ASEAN seeks to promote socioeconomic progress and regional stability through cooperation in banking, trade, technology, agriculture, industry, and tourism. Members agreed in 1992 to create the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), a regional common market, which became effective in 1993. Tariffs among the six oldest ASEAN nations are to be phased out by 2007; the rest of ASEAN will complete the process in 2012. At the same time, under an 2004 agreement with China, tariffs on many goods will be eliminated by 2010 with the ASEAN 6 and by 2015 with the rest. In 1995 a treaty proclaiming Southeast Asia a nuclear-weapons-free zone was signed by ASEAN members and then-prospective members Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Members are also pledged to work together to promote foreign investment in the region. In 2005, ASEAN established the East Asia Summit as a broader regional forum for its members and China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.