South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) List[show]

Members Observers

Headquarters

Kathmandu, Nepal 8 member states Membership 6 observers Leaders - Chairman Mahinda Rajapaksa - Secretary General Sheel Kant Sharma Establishment December 8, 1985 Area 5,130,746 km2 (7th1) - Total 1,980,992 sq mi Population - 2004 estimate 1,467,255,669 (1st1) 285.9/km2 - Density 740.5/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate - Total US$ 4,074,031 million (3rd1) - Per capita US$ 2,777 Currency see footnote 2 Time zone (UTC+4 to +6) Website http://www.saarc-sec.org/
1

If considered as a single entity. A unified currency has been proposed. Present currencies (ISO 4217 codes bracketed): 2 Afghan afghani (AFG) Bangladeshi taka (BDT) Bhutanese ngultrum (BTN) Indian rupee (INR) Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR) Nepalese rupee (NPR) Pakistani rupee (PKR) Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and political organization of eight countries in Southern Asia. In terms of population, its sphere of influence is the largest of any regional organization: almost 1.5 billion people, the combined population of its member states. It was established on December 8, 1985 by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. In April 2007, at the Association's 14th summit, Afghanistan became its eighth member.

[edit] History
In the late 1970s, Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman proposed the creation of a trade bloc consisting of South Asian countries. The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was again mooted in May 1980. The foreign secretaries of the seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. The Committee of the Whole, which met in Colombo in August 1981, identified five broad areas for regional cooperation. New areas of cooperation were added in the following years.[1] The objectives of the Association as defined in the Charter are:[2]

to promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality of life; to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential; to promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia; to contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another's problems; to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields; to strengthen cooperation with other developing countries; to strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interest; and to cooperate with international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes.

The Declaration on South Asian Regional Cooperation was adopted by the Foreign Ministers in 1983 in New Delhi. During the meeting, the Ministers also launched the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) in nine agreed areas, namely, Agriculture; Rural Development; Telecommunications; Meteorology; Health and Population Activities; Transport; Postal Services; Science and Technology; and Sports, Arts and Culture. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established when its Charter was formally adopted on 8 December 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.[2] Afghanistan was added to the regional grouping at the behest of India on 13 November 2005,[3] and became a member on 3 April 2007.[4] With the addition of Afghanistan, the

total number of member states were raised to eight (8). In April 2006, the United States of America and South Korea made formal requests to be granted observer status. The European Union has also indicated interest in being given observer status, and made a formal request for the same to the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting in July 2006.[5][6] On 2 August 2006 the foreign ministers of the SAARC countries agreed in principle to grant observer status to the US, South Korea and the European Union.[6] On 4 March 2007, Iran requested observer status.[7] Followed shortly by the entrance of Mauritius.

[edit] Secretariat
The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987 and was inaugurated by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal. It is headed by a Secretary General appointed by the Council of Ministers from Member Countries in alphabetical order for a three-year term. He is assisted by the Professional and the General Services Staff, and also an appropriate number of functional units called Divisions assigned to Directors on deputation from Member States.[8] The Secretariat coordinates and monitors implementation of activities, prepares for and services meetings, and serves as a channel of communication between the Association and its Member States as well as other regional organizations.[8] The Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Secretariat[8] which was signed by Foreign Ministers of member countries on 17 November 1986 at Bangalore, India contains various clauses concerning the role, structure and administration of the SAARC Secretariat as well as the powers of the Secretary-General. In several recent meetings the heads of state or government of member states of SAARC have taken some important decisions and bold initiatives to strengthen the organisation and to widen and deepen regional co-operation. The SAARC Secretariat and Member States observe 8 December as the SAARC Charter Day1..

[edit] Criticism
SAARC's inability to play a crucial role in integrating South Asia is often credited to the political and military rivalry between India and Pakistan. Over the years, SAARC's role in South Asia has been greatly diminished and is now used as a mere platform for annual talks and meetings between its members.

[edit] Political issues

SAARC has intentionally laid more stress on "core issues" mentioned above rather than more decisive political issues like the Kashmir dispute and the Sri Lankan civil war. However, political dialogue is often conducted on the margins of SAARC meetings. SAARC has also refrained itself from interfering in the internal matters of its member

states. During the 12th and 13th SAARC summits, extreme emphasis was laid upon greater cooperation between the SAARC members to fight terrorism.

[edit] Free trade agreement

Over the years, the SAARC members have expressed their unwillingness on signing a free trade agreement. Though India has several trade pacts with Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, similar trade agreements with Pakistan and Bangladesh have been stalled due to political and economic concerns on both sides. India has been constructing a barrier across its borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan. In 1993, SAARC countries signed an agreement to gradually lower tariffs within the region, in Dhaka. Eleven years later, at the 12th SAARC Summit at Islamabad, SAARC countries devised the South Asia Free Trade Agreement which created a framework for the establishment of a free trade area covering 1.4 billion people. This agreement went into force on January 1, 2006. Under this agreement, SAARC members will bring their duties down to 20 per cent by 2007.

[edit] Dhaka 2005 Summit

The summit accorded observer status to People's Republic of China, Japan, South Korea and United States of America. The nations also agreed to organize development funds under a single financial institution with a permanent secretariat, that would cover all SAARC programs and also ranging from social, to infrastructure, to economic ones.

[edit] Membership
[edit] Current members (alphabetically)

Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka

[edit] Observers

Australia[9] China European Union[10] Iran[11] Japan[10] Mauritius [12]

Myanmar (Burma) [9] South Korea United States

[edit] Future membership

The People's Republic of China has shown its interest in joining SAARC.[13] While Pakistan and Bangladesh support China's candidature, India is more reluctant about the prospect of Chinese membership, while Bhutan does not even have diplomatic relations with China.[14] However, during the 2005 Dhaka summit, India agreed on granting observer status to the PRC along with Japan. During the 14th summit, Nepal along with Pakistan and Bangladesh, announced their support for the membership of China.[15][16][17] China seeks greater involvement in SAARC, however, finds it too early to apply for full membership.
[18]

Indonesia intends to become an observer as well, and is supported by Sri Lanka.[19] Iran, a state with borders to two SAARC members, has traditionally enjoyed strong cultural, economic and political relationships with Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh and has expressed its desire to become a member of the South Asian organization. On 22 February 2005, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Kamal Kharrazi, indicated Iran's interest in joining SAARC by saying that his country could provide the region with "East-West connectivity".[20] On 3 March 2007, Iran asked to join the SAARC as an observer. SAARC Secretary-General Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji responded by saying that Iran's request for observer status would be taken up during a meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of SAARC member countries in the 3 April summit in New Delhi.[21][17] Russia intends to become an observer as well, and is supported by India.[22][23] Myanmar has expressed an interest in joining as a full member. If done so, Myanmar will become the ninth member in the group. India is currently backing Myanmar.[24][25]Burmas military regime officially applied for full SAARC membership in May 2008. However, the application is still being considered and the government is currently restricted to observer status.[26] South Africa has participated in meetings.[27]

[edit] Secretaries General

Abul Ahsan Kant Kishore Bhargava Ibrahim Hussain Zaki Yadav Kant Silwal Naeem U. Hasan Nihal Rodrigo Q.A.M.A. Rahim Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji Sheel Kant Sharma January 16, 1987 to 15 October 1989 October 17, 1989 to December 31, 1991 January 1, 1992 to December 31, 1993 January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1995 January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1998 January 1, 1999 to January 10, 2002 January 11, 2002 to February 28, 2005 March 1, 2005 to February 29, 2008 March 1, 2008 to present

[edit] List of SAARC summits

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Dhaka Bangalore Kathmandu Islamabad Mal Colombo Dhaka New Delhi December 7-8 1985 November 1617 1986 November 2-4 1987 December 2931 1988 November 2123 1990 December 21, 1991 April 10-11 1993 May 2-4 1995 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th Mal Colombo Kathmandu Islamabad Dhaka New Delhi Colombo Male Bhutan May 12-14 1997 July 29-31 1998 January 4-6 2002 January 2-6 2004 November 12-13 2005 April 3-4 2007 August 1-3 2008 Scheduled to held in 2010

[edit] SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement

The Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA)[28] was signed on 11 April 1993 and entered into force on 7 December 1995, with the desire of the Member States of SAARC (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives) to promote and sustain mutual trade and economic cooperation within the SAARC region through the exchange of concessions. The establishment of an Inter-Governmental Group (IGG) to formulate an agreement to establish a SAPTA by 1997 was approved in the Sixth Summit of SAARC held in Colombo in December 1991. The basic principles underlying SAPTA are: 1. overall reciprocity and mutuality of advantages so as to benefit equitably all Contracting States, taking into account their respective level of economic and industrial development, the pattern of their external trade, and trade and tariff policies and systems; 2. negotiation of tariff reform step by step, improved and extended in successive stages through periodic reviews; 3. recognition of the special needs of the Least Developed Contracting States and agreement on concrete preferential measures in their favour; 4. inclusion of all products, manufactures and commodities in their raw, semiprocessed and processed forms. So far, four rounds of trade negotiations have been concluded under SAPTA covering over 5000 commodities.

[edit] South Asian Free Trade Area

See also: Free trade area The Agreement on the South Asian Free Trade Area is an agreement reached at the 12th SAARC summit at Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on 6 January 2004. It creates a framework for the creation of a free trade area covering 1.4 billion people in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives.The seven foreign ministers of the region signed a framework agreement on SAFTA with zero customs duty on the trade of practically all products in the region by end 2016. The new agreement i.e. SAFTA, came into being on 1 January 2006 and will be operational following the ratification of the agreement by the seven governments. SAFTA requires the developing countries in South Asia, that is, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to bring their duties down to 20 percent in the first phase of the two year period ending in 2007. In the final five year phase ending 2012, the 20 percent duty will be reduced to zero in a series of annual cuts. The least developed nations in South Asia consisting of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives have an additional three years to reduce tariffs to zero. Pakistan has signed but not ratified the treaty, though there is hope in India, that it will sometime in 2008.[29

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations,[1] commonly abbreviated ASEAN (generally pronounced /si.n/ AH-see-ahn,[2] occasionally /zi.n/ AH-zee-ahn[3] in English, the official language of the bloc),[4] is a geo-political and economic organisation of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.[5] Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Its aims include the acceleration of economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, the protection of the peace and stability of the region, and to provide opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully.[6] In 2005, the bloc spanned over an area of 4.46 million km2 with a combined GDP (Nominal/PPP) of about USD$896.5 billion/$2,728 billion growing at an average rate of around 5.6% per annum. In 2008, its combined GDP had grown to more than USD $1.5 trillion with a population of approximately 580 million people (8.7% of the world population) [7]

History
See also: List of ASEAN member states ASEAN was preceded by an organisation called the Association of Southeast Asia, commonly called ASA, an alliance consisting of the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand

that was formed in 1961. The bloc itself, however, was established on 8 August 1967, when foreign ministers of five countries Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand met at the Thai Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok and signed the ASEAN Declaration, more commonly known as the Bangkok Declaration. The five foreign ministers Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso Ramos of the Philippines, Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand are considered as the organisation's Founding Fathers.[8] The motivations for the birth of ASEAN were so that its members governing elite could concentrate on nation building), the common fear of communism, reduced faith in or mistrust of external powers in the 1960s, as well as a desire for economic development; not to mention Indonesias ambition to become a regional hegemon through regional cooperation and the hope on the part of Malaysia and Singapore to constrain Indonesia and bring it into a more cooperative framework. Unlike the European Union, ASEAN was designed to serve nationalism.[9] In 1976, the Melanesian state of Papua New Guinea was accorded observer status.[10] Throughout the 1970s, the organisation embarked on a program of economic cooperation, following the Bali Summit of 1976. This floundered in the mid-1980s and was only revived around 1991 due to a Thai proposal for a regional free trade area. The bloc then grew when Brunei Darussalam became the sixth member after it joined on 8 January 1984, barely a week after the country became independent on 1 January.[11] On 28 July 1995, Vietnam became the seventh member.[12] Laos and Burma (Myanmar) joined two years later in 23 July 1997.[13] Cambodia was to have joined together with Laos and Myanmar, but was deferred due to the country's internal political struggle. The country later joined on 30 April 1999, following the stabilisation of its government.[13][14] During the 1990s, the bloc experienced an increase in both membership as well as in the drive for further integration. In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of an East Asia Economic Caucus[15] composing the then-members of ASEAN as well as the People's Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea, with the intention of counterbalancing the growing influence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as well as in the Asian region as a whole.[16][17] This proposal, however, failed since it faced heavy opposition from Japan and the United States.[16][18] Despite this failure, member states continued to work for further integration. In 1992, the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme was signed as a schedule for phasing tariffs and as a goal to increase the regions competitive advantage as a production base geared for the world market. This law would act as the framework for the ASEAN Free Trade Area. After the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, a revival of the Malaysian proposal was established in Chiang Mai, known as the Chiang Mai Initiative, which calls for better integration between the economies of ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Plus Three countries (China, Japan, and South Korea).[19] Aside from improving each member state's economies, the bloc also focused on peace and stability in the region. On 15 December 1995, the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-

Free Zone Treaty was signed with the intention of turning Southeast Asia into a NuclearWeapon-Free Zone. The treaty took effect on 28 March 1997 after all but one of the member states have ratified it. It became fully effective on 21 June 2001, after the Philippines ratified it, effectively banning all nuclear weapons in the region.[20]

Satellite image of the 2006 haze over Borneo At the turn of the 21st century, issues shifted to involve a more environmental perspective. The organisation started to discuss environmental agreements. These included the signing of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in 2002 as an attempt to control haze pollution in Southeast Asia.[21] Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful due to the outbreaks of the 2005 Malaysian haze and the 2006 Southeast Asian haze. Other environmental treaties introduced by the organisation include the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security,[22] the ASEAN-Wildlife Enforcement Network in 2005,[23] and the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, both of which are responses to the potential effects of climate change. Climate change is of current interest. Through the Bali Concord II in 2003, ASEAN has subscribed to the notion of democratic peace, which means all member countries believe democratic processes will promote regional peace and stability. Also, the non-democratic members all agreed that it was something all member states should aspire to.[24] The leaders of each country, particularly Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia, also felt the need to further integrate the region. Beginning in 1997, the bloc began creating organisations within its framework with the intention of achieving this goal. ASEAN Plus Three was the first of these and was created to improve existing ties with the People's Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea. This was followed by the even larger East Asia Summit, which included these countries as well as India, Australia, and New Zealand. This new grouping acted as a prerequisite for the planned East Asia Community, which was supposedly patterned after the now-defunct European Community. The ASEAN Eminent Persons Group was created to study the possible successes and failures of this policy as well as the possibility of drafting an ASEAN Charter. In 2006, ASEAN was given observer status at the United Nations General Assembly.[25] As a response, the organisation awarded the status of "dialogue partner" to the United Nations.[26] Furthermore, on 23 July that year, Jos Ramos-Horta, then Prime Minister of

East Timor, signed a formal request for membership and expected the accession process to last at least five years before the then-observer state became a full member.[27][28] In 2007, ASEAN celebrated its 40th anniversary since its inception, and 30 years of diplomatic relations with the United States.[29] On 26 August 2007, ASEAN stated that it aims to complete all its free trade agreements with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand by 2013, in line with the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.[30][31] In November 2007 the ASEAN members signed the ASEAN Charter, a constitution governing relations among the ASEAN members and establishing ASEAN itself as an international legal entity.[citation needed] During the same year, the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security in Cebu on 15 January 2007, by ASEAN and the other members of the EAS (Australia, People's Republic of China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea), which promotes energy security by finding energy alternatives to conventional fuels.[citation needed] On February 27, 2009 a Free Trade Agreement with the ASEAN regional block of 10 countries and New Zealand and its close partner Australia was signed, it is estimated that this FTA would boost aggregate GDP across the 12 countries by more than US$48 billion over the period 2000-2020.[32][33]

[edit] The ASEAN way

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In the 1960s, the push for decolonisation promoted the sovereignty of Indonesia and Malaysia among others. Since nation building is often messy and vulnerable to foreign intervention, the governing elite wanted to be free to implement independent policies with the knowledge that neighbours would refrain from interfering in their domestic affairs. Territorially small members such as Singapore and Brunei were consciously fearful of force and coercive measures from much bigger neighbours like Indonesia and Malaysia. "Through political dialogue and confidence building, no tension has escalated into armed confrontation among ASEAN member countries since its establishment more than three decades ago".[34] The ASEAN way can be traced back to the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South East Asian. "Fundamental principles adopted from this included: mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations; the right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion; non-interference in the internal affairs of one another; settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;

renunciation of the threat or use of force; and effective cooperation among themselves".[35] On the surface, the process of consultations and consensus is supposed to be a democratic approach to decision making, but the ASEAN process has been managed through close interpersonal contacts among the top leaders only, who often share a reluctance to institutionalise and legalise co-operation which can undermine their regime's control over the conduct of regional co-operation. Thus, the organisation is chaired by the secretariat.
[36]

All of these features, namely non-interference, informality, minimal institutionalisation, consultation and consensus, non-use of force and non-confrontation have constituted what is called the ASEAN Way. Since the late 1990s, many scholars have argued that the principle of non-interference has blunted ASEAN efforts in handling the problem of Myanmar, human rights abuses and haze pollution in the region. Meanwhile, with the consensus-based approach, every member in fact has a veto and decisions are usually reduced to the lowest common denominator. There has been a widespread belief that ASEAN members should have a less rigid view on these two cardinal principles when they wish to be seen as a cohesive and relevant community.

[edit] Policies
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Leaders of ASEAN and Yasuo Fukuda (Singapore, November 21, 2007) Apart from consultations and consensus, ASEANs agenda-setting and decision-making processes can be usefully understood in terms of the so-called Track I and Track II. Track I refers to the practice of diplomacy among government channels. The participants stand as representatives of their respective states and reflect the official positions of their governments during negotiations and discussions. All official decisions are made in Track I. Therefore, "Track I refers to intergovernmental processes".[37] Track II differs slightly from Track I, involving civil society groups and other individuals with various

links who work alongside governments.[38] This track enables governments to discuss controversial issues and test new ideas without making official statements or binding commitments, and, if necessary, backtrack on positions. Although Track II dialogues are sometimes cited as examples of the involvement of civil society in regional decision-making process by governments and other second track actors, NGOs have rarely got access to this track, meanwhile participants from the academic community are a dozen think-tanks. However, these think-tanks are, in most cases, very much linked to their respective governments, and dependent on government funding for their academic and policy-relevant activities, and many working in Track II have previous bureaucratic experience.[37] Their recommendations, especially in economic integration, are often closer to ASEANs decisions than the rest of civil societys positions. The track that acts as a forum for civil society in Southeast Asia is called Track III. Track III participants are generally civil society groups who represent a particular idea or brand. [39] Track III networks claim to represent communities and people who are largely marginalised from political power centres and unable to achieve positive change without outside assistance. This track tries to influence government policies indirectly by lobbying, generating pressure through the media. Third-track actors also organise and/or attend meetings as well as conferences to get access to Track I officials. While Track II meetings and interactions with Track I actors have increased and intensified, rarely has the rest of civil society had the opportunity to interface with Track II. Those with Track I have been even rarer. Looking at the three tracks, it is clear that until now, ASEAN has been run by government officials who, as far as ASEAN matters are concerned, are accountable only to their governments and not the people. In a lecture on the occasion of ASEANs 38th anniversary, the incumbent Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono admitted: All the decisions about treaties and free trade areas, about declarations and plans of action, are made by Heads of Government, ministers and senior officials. And the fact that among the masses, there is little knowledge, let alone appreciation, of the large initiatives that ASEAN is taking on their behalf. [40]

[edit] Meetings
[edit] ASEAN Summit
The organisation holds meetings, known as the ASEAN Summit, where heads of government of each member meet to discuss and resolve regional issues, as well as to conduct other meetings with other countries outside of the bloc with the intention of promoting external relations.

The ASEAN Leaders' Formal Summit was first held in Bali, Indonesia in 1976. Its third meeting was held in Manila in 1987 and during this meeting, it was decided that the leaders would meet every five years.[41] Consequently, the fourth meeting was held in Singapore in 1992 where the leaders again agreed to meet more frequently, deciding to hold the summit every three years.[41] In 2001, it was decided to meet annually to address urgent issues affecting the region. Member nations were assigned to be the summit host in alphabetical order except in the case of Myanmar which dropped its 2006 hosting rights in 2004 due to pressure from the United States and the European Union.[42] By December 2008, the ASEAN Charter came into force and with it, the ASEAN Summit will be held twice in a year. The formal summit meets for three days. The usual itinerary is as follows:

Leaders of member states would hold an internal organisation meeting. Leaders of member states would hold a conference together with foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum. A meeting, known as ASEAN Plus Three, is set for leaders of three Dialogue Partners (People's Republic of China, Japan, South Korea) A separate meeting, known as ASEAN-CER, is set for another set of leaders of two Dialogue Partners (Australia, New Zealand).[citation needed]

ASEAN Formal Summits

Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 2324 February, 1976 45 August, 1977 1415 December, 1987 2729 January, 1992 1415 December, 1995 1516 December, 1998 Country Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Bali Kuala Lumpur Manila Singapore Bangkok Hanoi Host

7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th

56 November, 2001 45 November, 2002 78 October, 2003 2930 November, 2004 1214 December, 2005 1114 January, 20071 1822 November, 2007 27 February - 1 March, 2009 10-11 April 2009 23 October 2009 2010

Brunei Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Philippines2 Singapore

Bandar Seri Begawan Phnom Penh Bali Vientiane Kuala Lumpur Cebu Singapore Cha Am, Hua Hin Pattaya Cha Am, Hua Hin Hanoi

14th3

Thailand

15th 16th
1

Thailand Vietnam

Postponed from 1014 December, 2006 due to Typhoon Seniang.

hosted the summit because Myanmar backed out due to enormous pressure from US and EU

This summit consisted of two parts. The first part was moved from 1217 December, 2008 due to the 2008 Thai political crisis. The second part was aborted on April 11 due to protesters entering the summit venue.

During the fifth Summit in Bangkok, the leaders decided to meet "informally" between each formal summit:[41]

ASEAN Informal Summits

Date 1st 2n d 3rd 4th 30 November 1996 Country Indonesia Jakarta Host

1416 December, 1997

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

2728 November, 1999 2225 November, 2000

Philippines Singapore

Manila Singapore

[edit] East Asia Summit

Participants of the East Asia Summit:

members Observer

ASEAN

ASEAN Plus Three

Additional

Main article: East Asia Summit The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a pan-Asian forum held annually by the leaders of 16 countries in East Asia and the region, with ASEAN in a leadership position. The summit has discussed issues including trade, energy and security and the summit has a role in regional community building. The members of the summit are all 10 members of ASEAN together with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand who combined represent almost half of the world's population. Russia has applied for membership of the summit and in 2005 was a guest for the First EAS at the invitation of the host - Malaysia.[43]

The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur on 14 December 2005 and subsequent meetings have been held after the annual ASEAN Leaders Meeting. Meeting Country Location Date Note

First EAS

Malaysi Kuala Lumpur

14 December Russia attended as a guest. 2005 Rescheduled from 13 December 2006. Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment[44]

Second Philippi 15 January Cebu City EAS nes 2007

Third EAS

Singapo re

21 Singapore November 2007 Agreed to establish Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia

Fourth EAS

Thailan d

Cha-am and Hua Hin

The date and location of the venue was rescheduled several times, and then a Summit scheduled for 12 April 2009 at 25 October Pattaya, Thailand was cancelled when 2009 protesters stormed the venue. The Summit has been rescheduled for October 2009 and transferred again from Phuket[45] to Cha-am and Hua Hin.

Thailand changes venue for ASEAN+3, East Asia summits [3][46](date:15'aug'09) Thailand has decided to change the venue of this year's ASEAN+3 and East Asia summits slated for 23 -25 October in Phuket to the beach resort towns of Cha-am and Hua Hin, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters on Friday. Kasit said there was no major reason for change, but "maximum security for the leaders who are our guests is the most important issue."

The minister, who is in Kuala Lumpur, declined to comment on security in Phuket, a southern Thai resort where ASEAN ministerial meetings were held last month.

Leaders from Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand were scheduled to join their ASEAN counterparts for the annual summit in April in Thailand's east coast resort Pattaya, but anti-government protesters stormed the meeting and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva cancelled the meetings

[edit] Commemorative summit

A commemorative summit is a summit hosted by a non-ASEAN country to mark a milestone anniversary of the establishment of relations between ASEAN and the host country. The host country invites the heads of government of ASEAN member countries to discuss future cooperation and partnership. Meeting Host Location Date Note

ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit

Jap an

Tokyo

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of relations 11, 12 between ASEAN and Japan. The December summit was also notable as the first 2003 ASEAN summit held between ASEAN and a non-ASEAN country outside the region. 30, 31 October 2006 To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of relations between ASEAN and China To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of relations between ASEAN and Republic of Korea

ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit

Chi na

Nanning

Sou th Korea Jeju-do

1, 2 June 2009

[edit] Regional Forum

 ASEAN full members ASEAN observers ASEAN candidate members ASEAN Plus Three East Asia Summit ASEAN Regional Forum The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a formal, official, multilateral dialogue in Asia Pacific region. As of July 2007, it is consisted of 27 participants. ARF objectives are to foster dialogue and consultation, and promote confidence-building and preventive diplomacy in the region.[47] The ARF met for the first time in 1994. The current participants in the ARF are as follows: all the ASEAN members, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, the People's Republic of China, the European Union, India, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, TimorLeste, United States and Sri Lanka.[48] The Republic of China (also known as Taiwan) has been excluded since the establishment of the ARF, and issues regarding the Taiwan Strait is neither discussed at the ARF meetings nor stated in the ARF Chairman's Statements.

[edit] Other meetings

Aside from the ones above, other regular[49] meetings are also held.[50] These include the annual ASEAN Ministerial Meeting[51] as well as other smaller committees, such as the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.[52] Meetings mostly focus on specific topics, such as defence[49] or the environment,[49][53] and are attended by Ministers, instead of heads of government. [edit] Plus Three The ASEAN Plus Three is a meeting between ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea, and is primarily held during each ASEAN Summit. [edit] Asia-Europe Meeting The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal dialogue process initiated in 1996 with the intention of strengthening cooperation between the countries of Europe and Asia, especially members of the European Union and ASEAN in particular.[54] ASEAN, represented by its Secretariat, is one of the 45 ASEM partners. It also appoints a representative to sit on the governing board of Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), a sociocultural organisation associated with the Meeting. [edit] ASEAN-Russia Summit The ASEAN-Russia Summit is an annual meeting between leaders of member states and the President of Russia.

[edit] Economic Community

ASEAN has emphasised regional cooperation in the three pillars of security, sociocultural and economic integration.[55] The regional grouping has made the most progress in economic integration, aiming to create an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.[56]

[edit] Free Trade Area

The foundation of the AEC is the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), a common external preferential tariff scheme to promote the free flow of goods within ASEAN.[56] The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) is an agreement by the member nations of ASEAN concerning local manufacturing in all ASEAN countries. The AFTA agreement was signed on 28 January 1992 in Singapore.[57] When the AFTA agreement was originally signed, ASEAN had six members, namely, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Vietnam joined in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. The latecomers have not fully met the AFTA's obligations, but they are officially considered part of the AFTA as they were required to sign the agreement upon entry into ASEAN, and were given longer time frames in which to meet AFTA's tariff reduction obligations.[58]

[edit] 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[59]

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.[59]

[edit] Trade in Services

An ASEAN Framework Agreement on Trade in Services was adopted at the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in December 1995.[60] Under AFAS, ASEAN Member States enter into successive rounds of negotiations to liberalise trade in services with the aim of submitting increasingly higher levels of commitments. The negotiations result in

commitments that are set forth in schedules of specific commitments annexed to the Framework Agreement. These schedules are often referred to as packages of services commitments. At present, ASEAN has concluded seven packages of commitments under AFAS.[61]

[edit] Single Aviation Market

The ASEAN Single Aviation Market (SAM), proposed by the ASEAN Air Transport Working Group, supported by the ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting, and endorsed by the ASEAN Transport Ministers, will introduce an open-sky arrangement to the region by 2015.[62] The ASEAN SAM will be expected to fully liberalise air travel between its member states, allowing ASEAN to directly benefit from the growth in air travel around the world, and also freeing up tourism, trade, investment and services flows between member states.[62][63] Beginning 1 December 2008, restrictions on the third and fourth freedoms of the air between capital cities of member states for air passengers services will be removed,[64] while from 1 January 2009, there will be full liberalisation of air freight services in the region, while[62][63] By 1 January 2011, there will be liberalisation of fifth freedom traffic rights between all capital cities.[65]

[edit] Free Trade Agreements With Other Countries

ASEAN has concluded free trade agreements with China, Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most recently India.[66] In addition, it is currently negotiating free trade agreement with the European Union.[67] Taiwan has also expressed interest in an agreement with ASEAN but needs to overcome diplomatic objections from China.[68]

[edit] Charter
Main article: ASEAN Charter On 15 December 2008 the members of ASEAN met in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta to launch a charter, signed in November 2007, with the aim of moving closer to "an EUstyle community".[69] The charter turns ASEAN into a legal entity and aims to create a single free-trade area for the region encompassing 500 million people. President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated that "This is a momentous development when ASEAN is consolidating, integrating and transforming itself into a community. It is achieved while ASEAN seeks a more vigorous role in Asian and global affairs at a time when the international system is experiencing a seismic shift," he added, referring to climate change and economic upheaval. Southeast Asia is no longer the bitterly divided, war-torn region it was in the 1960s and 1970s." "The fundamental principles include: a) respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all ASEAN Member States; b) shared commitment and collective responsibility in enhancing regional peace, security and prosperity; c) renunciation of aggression and of the threat or use of force or other actions in any manner inconsistent with international law; d) reliance on peaceful settlement of disputes; e) non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN Member States; f) respect for the right of every Member

State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion and coercion; g) enhanced consultations on matters seriously affecting the common interest of ASEAN; h) adherence to the rule of law, good governance, the principles of democracy and constitutional government; i) respect for fundamental freedoms, the promotion and protection of human rights, and the promotion of social justice; j) upholding the United Nations Charter and international law, including international humanitarian law, subscribed to by ASEAN Member States; k) abstention from participation in any policy or activity, including the use of its territory, pursued by and ASEAN Member State or non-ASEAN State or any non-State actor, which threatens the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political and economic stability of ASEAN Member States; l) respect for the different cultures, languages and religions of the peoples of ASEAN, while emphasising their common values in the spirit of unity in diversity; m) the centrality of ASEAN in external political, economic, social and cultural relations while remaining actively engaged, outward-looking, inclusive and non-discriminatory; and n) adherence to multilateral trade rules and ASEAN's rules-based regimes for effective implementation of economic commitments and progressive reduction towards elimination of all barriers to regional economic integration, in a market-driven economy".[70] However, the ongoing global financial crisis was stated as being a threat to the goals envisioned by the charter,[71] and also set forth the idea of a proposed human rights body to be discussed at a future summit in February 2009. This proposition caused controversy, as the body would not have the power to impose sanctions or punish countries who violate citizens' rights and would therefore be limited in effectiveness.[72]

[edit] Cultural activities

Logo of the S.E.A. Write Award The organisation hosts cultural activities in an attempt to further integrate the region. These include sports and educational activities as well as writing awards. Examples of these include the ASEAN University Network, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award, and the Singapore-sponsored ASEAN Scholarship.

[edit] S.E.A. Write Award

The S.E.A. Write Award is a literary award given to Southeast Asian poets and writers annually since 1979. The award is either given for a specific work or as a recognition of an author's lifetime achievement. Works that are honoured vary and have included

poetry, short stories, novels, plays, folklore as well as scholarly and religious works. Ceremonies are held in Bangkok and are presided by a member of the Thai royal family.

[edit] ASAIHL
ASAIHL or the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning is a nongovernmental organisation founded in 1956 that strives to strengthen higher learning institutions, espescially in teaching, research, and public service, with the intention of cultivating a sense of regional identity and interdependence.

[edit] Heritage Parks

ASEAN Heritage Parks[73] is a list of nature parks launched 1984 and relaunched in 2004. It aims to protect the region's natural treasures. There are now 35 such protected areas, including the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park and the Kinabalu National Park.[74] [edit] List

ASEAN Heritage Sites

Site Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park Apo Natural Park Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park Gunung Mulu National Park Hoang Lien Sa Pa National Park Country Site Ao Phang-nga Marine National Park Country

Myanmar

Thailand

Philippines Ba Be National Park Gunung Leuser National Park Ha Long Bay

Vietnam

Indonesia

Indonesia

Malaysia

Vietnam

Vietnam

Iglit-Baco National Park

Philippines

Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

Myanmar

Inl Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Kerinci Seblat National Park

Myanmar

Kaeng Krachan National Park

Thailand

Indonesia

Khakaborazi National Park Kinabalu National Park

Myanmar Khao Yai National Park Malaysia Komodo National Park Lampi Kyun Wildlife Reserve Meinmhala Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary

Thailand Indonesia

Kon Ka Kinh National Park

Vietnam

Myanmar

Lorentz National Park

Indonesia

Myanmar

Mu Ko Surin-Mu Ko Similan Marine National Park Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

Thailand

Nam Ha Protected Area

Laos

Vietnam

Preah Monivong (Bokor) National Park Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Tarutao Marine National Park Thung Yai-Huay Kha Khaeng National Park

Cambodia

Philippines

Singapore

Taman Negara National Park

Malaysia

Thailand

Tasek Merimbun Wildlife Sanctuary Tubbataha Reef Marine Park

Brunei

Thailand

Philippines Ujung Kulon National

Indonesia

Park Virachey National Park Cambodia Keraton Yogyakarta Indonesia

[edit] Scholarship
The ASEAN Scholarship is a scholarship program offered by Singapore to the 9 other member states for secondary school, junior college, and university education. It covers accommodation, food, medical benefits & accident insurance, school fees, and examination fees.[75]

[edit] University Network

The ASEAN University Network (AUN) is a consortium of Southeast Asian universities. It was originally founded in November 1995 by 11 universities within the member states. [76] Currently AUN comprises 21 Participating Universities.[77]

[edit] Official song

The ASEAN Way - the official regional anthem of ASEAN, music by Kittikhun Sodprasert and Sampow Triudom Thailand; Lyrics by Payom Valaiphatchra Thailand. ASEAN Song of Unity or ASEAN Hymn, music by Ryan Cayabyab Philippines. Let us move ahead, an ASEAN song, composed by Candra Darusman Indonesia.

[edit] Sports
[edit] Southeast Asian Games
The Southeast Asian Games, commonly known as the SEA Games, is a biennial multisport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The games is under regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia.

[edit] ASEAN Para Games

Logo of the ASEAN Para Games The ASEAN Para Games is a biennial multi-sport event held after every Southeast Asian Games for athletes with physical disabilities. The games are participated by the 11 countries located in Southeast Asia. The Games, patterned after the Paralympic Games, are played by physically-challenged athletes with mobility disabilities, visual disabilities, who are amputees and those with cerebral palsy.

[edit] FESPIC Games/ Asian Para Games

The FESPIC Games, also known as the Far East and South Pacific Games for the persons with disability, was the biggest multi-sports games in Asia and South Pacific region. The FESPIC Games were held nine times and bowed out, a success[78] in December 2006 in the 9th FESPIC Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Games re-emerges as the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China. The 2010 Asian Para Games will debut shortly after the conclusion of the 16th Asian Games, using the same facilities and venue made disability-accessible. The inaugural Asian Para Games, the parallel event for athletes with physical disabilities, is a multi-sport event held every four years after every Asian Games.

[edit] Football Championship

The ASEAN Football Championship is a biennial Football competition organised by the ASEAN Football Federation, accredited by FIFA and contested by the national teams of Southeast Asia nations. It was inaugurated in 1996 as Tiger Cup, but after Asia Pacific Breweries terminated the sponsorship deal, "Tiger" was renamed "ASEAN".

[edit] Criticism
Western countries have criticised ASEAN for being too soft in its approach to promoting human rights and democracy in the junta-led Myanmar.[79] Despite global outrage at the military crack-down on peaceful protesters in Yangon, ASEAN has refused to suspend Myanmar as a member and also rejects proposals for economic sanctions.[80] This has caused concern as the European Union, a potential trade partner, has refused to conduct free trade negotiations at a regional level for these political reasons.[81] International observers view it as a "talk shop",[82] which implies that the organisation is "big on words but small on action".[83]

During the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, several activist groups staged antiglobalisation and anti-Arroyo rallies.[84] According to the activists, the agenda of economic integration would negatively affect industries in the Philippines and would cause thousands of Filipinos to lose their jobs.[85] They also viewed the organisation as imperialistic that threatens the country's sovereignty.[85] A human rights lawyer from New Zealand was also present to protest about the human rights situation in the region in general.[86] ASEAN has agreed to an ASEAN human rights body which will come into force in 2009. The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand want this body to have an enforcement capacity, however Singapore, Vietnam, Burma, Laos and Cambodia do not.
[citation needed]

[edit] See also

ASEAN Common Time ASEAN kecil Asian Monetary Unit List of ASEAN countries by GDP (nominal) Mekong-Ganga Cooperation SEA-EU-NET Southeast Asia Treaty Organization