ASEAN Full Form – Association of Southeast Asian Nations

The ASEAN Full form is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an organization of global significance. A group of ten countries of Southeast Asia constitutes this body. The organization works toward maintaining social, political, and economic stability with mutual support and cooperation.

This article provides a detailed overview of ASEAN’s objectives, functions, principles, and highlights the different aspects of ASEAN-India relationships, to keep you better informed and updated about its significance in the global scenario.

What is the Full Form of ASEAN?

The full form of ASEAN is ‘Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ where:

A stands of Association

S stands for South

E stands for East

A stands for Asian

N stands for Nation

ASEAN was formed on 8th August, 1967. There were five Southeast Asian countries as founding members. Later, another five countries joined between 1984 and 1999. The formation of this organization was marked by signing a treaty called the ASEAN declaration, also known as the Bangkok declaration.

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Member Nations of ASEAN

ASEAN consists of ten member countries as follows:

• Indonesia (Founding member)
• Singapore (Founding member)
• Philippines (Founding member)
• Thailand (Founding member)
• Malaysia (Founding member)
• Brunei (Joined in 1984)
• Vietnam (Joined in 1995)
• Laos (Joined in 1997)
• Myanmar (Joined in 1997)
• Cambodia (Joined in 1999)

ASEAN Full Form – Objectives

ASEAN was formed with an aim to establish a community that works collaboratively to support economic and social development in the Southeast Asian region. The major objectives of ASEAN include the following:

• Provide mutual support in the social, cultural, economic, scientific, administrative, and technological aspects.
• Maintain mutually advantageous relationships with international and regional organizations.
• Work together to develop agriculture, industry, and commerce to improve the standards of people’s life.
• Maintain a peaceful environment in the Southeast Asian region through collaborative efforts.
• Adhere to a system that conforms to the United Nations Charter’s rules.

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ASEAN Full Form – Principles

In the first ASEAN summit in 1976, a few principles of operation were outlined for the member countries. These are as follows:

• All countries must rely on mutual independence, sovereignty, equality, integrity, and national identity.
• Every state can decide independently about foreign intervention or supervision.
• No interference is allowed in any nations’ private affairs.
• Settlement of disputes peacefully with mutual consensus.
• No forceful intervention or giving threats.

How ASEAN Operates?

ASEAN follows a certain structure to perform its activities effectively and meet the objectives, as discussed below:

• ASEAN Summit: ASEAN nations’ political heads attend this summit to discuss policy matters and make decisions.
• ASEAN Ministerial Meetings: Foreign ministers of member countries conduct meetings to discuss political, economic, and social issues.
• ASEAN Secretariat: It is the central administrative body of ASEAN. It facilitates coordination among member countries.
• ASEAN Coordinating Council: Foreign ministers from member countries constitute this forum.
• ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies: These bodies control different sectors and facilitate cooperation in specific areas.
• ASEAN Community Councils: ASEAN has three community councils that look after different aspects such as political security, economic status, and socio-cultural scenarios.

Important Milestones of ASEAN Journey

The important milestones achieved in the journey of ASEAN since its establishment are given as follows:

• 1976: Singing of Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia
• 1995: Signing of treaty to refrain from acquiring or developing nuclear weapons.
• 2008: Implementing ASEAN Charter that defines legal and institutional framework.

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Importance of ASEAN Charter

The ASEAN charter is a document that clearly defines norms, rules and values of ASEAN. It also sets rules for accountability and compliance. The importance of ASEAN charter is summarised as follows:

• New legal status and responsibility
• New political commitment at higher level
• Formation of new ASEAN bodies
• More ASEAN meetings
• More involvement of ASEAN Foreign Ministers
• Enhanced role of the Secretary-General of ASEAN

ASEAN Indian Relationship

India’s economic liberalization in the 1990s opened up new avenues for building relations with ASEAN. India started with its ‘Look East Policy’ to develop a strong and diverse partnership status with Southeast Asian countries. India has now moved a step ahead with a new approach of ‘Act East Policy’. It focuses on developing India’s status as a dialogue and summit partner of ASEAN. India has taken some initiatives to expand relations with ASEAN member countries, which are as follows:

• India signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to strengthen relationships between ASEAN and India.
• India’s foreign policy includes strategies that facilitate connections with ASEAN.
• India expressed its objectives to expand relationships with ASEAN nations through ASEAN-India and East Asia summits.
• India observed an increase in capital inflows in the form of FDI from ASEAN member countries.
• The ASEAN India-Commercial Council (AIBC) was formed in Kuala Lumpur in March 2003.
• Both India and ASEAN have agreed on discussion-based collaboration and summit-level engagement for a longer period.
• The ASEAN-India center was launched in 2013 to improve engagement and collaboration opportunities.

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Significance of ASEAN

The ASEAN plays a significant role in marinating peace and stability through cooperation, conflict handling, and strategy formulation. Here are some of the major contributions of ASEAN in promoting growth and trust building:

• ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was formed to maintain a successful economic integration between nations.
• ASEAN provides a platform for communication, coordination, and engagement among member countries.
• The principle of non-interference and consensus decision-making builds a better bonding among member countries of ASEAN.
• ASEAN countries benefit from the exchange of diverse cultural heritage among member nations.

Conclusion

The full form of ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is a unified platform formed by ten countries in Southeast Asia for addressing challenges with mutual support and collaboration. The aim is to maintain stability and harmony with focus on economic, social, cultural development. Understanding the full form of ASEAN and its functions makes us aware how it builds a mutually supportive and respectful environment among Southeast Asian nations.

FAQs on ASEAN Full Form

When was the first ASEAN summit held?

The first ASEAN summit was at Bali, Indonesia on 23-24 February, 1976.

What is the core aim of ASEAN?

The core aim of ASEAN, as confirmed by the member countries in 1995, is ‘cooperative peace and shared prosperity’.

How is the chairperson position of ASEAN decided?

The chairperson position of ASEAN changes annually. Each year, one of the member countries gets the chair. The prime minister of Malaysia is the present chairperson of ASEAN for 2025.

When is ASEAN Day celebrated?

ASEAN Day is celebrated on 8th August.

What do the main colours in the flag of ASEAN signify?

The flag of ASEAN has red, blue, yellow, and white colors which represent the colours found in the national flags of member nations.