ASEAN turns 40 today
Bangkok, Aug 8 (UNI) The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is observing its 40th anniversary today, aiming to exercise a major say in world affairs in the near future.
At a ceremony here to mark the regional forum's birth on August 8 1967, Thailand's Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said ASEAN was evolving into a community anchored in a common security, economic and socio-cultural base.
A Charter, expected to be finalised later this year, would raise ASEAN's global profile and bargaining power, the minister said.
The Charter was discussed at the recent 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila and expected to be ready for signing at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore, later this year.
Founded by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, ASEAN now has 10 members with Brunei joining in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997 and Cambodia in 1999.
The ASEAN countries have a combined population of about 500 million, a total area of 4.5 million sq km, a combined gross domestic product of almost 700 billion US dollars and total trade of about 850 billion US dollars.
The member nations cooperate in 28 areas ranging from poverty eradication, public health, environment and disaster management to legal expertise, finance, anti-terrorism and narcotic suppression.
The grouping has 11 Dialogue Partners and holds annual summits with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea under the ASEAN plus three framework. It is a key player in the wide-ranging security ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit with Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand.
ASEAN is negotiating Free Trade Area (FTA) agreements with China, India, Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea and the European Union.
UNI