Get to know about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, their purpose, principles and progress in brief.

1. ASEAN
SUBTOPICS –
 PURPOSE OF ASEAN
 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
 ECONOMIC PROGRESS
BY – MOHAMMAD ARIF
CLASS- 11 E

2. PURPOSE OF ASEAN
The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association are:
(1) to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the
region through joint endeavors 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 in the region and adherence to the
principles of the United Nations Charter. In 1995, the ASEAN Heads of State and
Government re-affirmed that “Cooperative peace and shared prosperity shall be the
fundamental goals of ASEAN.”

3. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
• The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia, signed at
the First ASEAN Summit on 24 February 1976, declared that in their
relations with one another, the High Contracting Parties should be guided by
the following fundamental principles:
• 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.

4. ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF ASEAN
• The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is the goal of regional economic integration of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Set to launch by 31 December 2015, the
AEC will endeavor to move the region toward a more globally-competitive single market and
production base with free flows of goods, services, skilled labor, investments and capital
across its 10 member states.
• The importance of the ASEAN region has increased enormously in recent decades. Nowadays,
ASEAN is the 7th largest economy in the world and it is home of 625 million people,
making its population larger than the European Unions’ or North America’s. ASEAN has the
3rd largest labor force in the world, behind China and India. Since 1990, nearly 60% of total
ASEAN growth has come from productivity gains. ASEAN GDP growth from 2004-2014 was
5.4%, outpacing BRIC countries Brazil and Russia.