ASEAN & Affiliated groups

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Bankong of Thailand on November 3, 2019 where he attended the ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) summits.
• These summits used to strengthen regional cooperation in key areas such as trade, maritime security and connectivity.

ASEAN

• The Association of South East Asian Nations is a regional intergovernmental organization which was established to promote political and social stability amid rising tensions among the Asia-Pacific’s post-colonial states.
• The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.
• 8th August is observed as ASEAN Day.
• ASEAN Secretariat – Indonesia, Jakarta.
• The Chairmanship of ASEAN rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of ASEAN member states.
• The member state assuming the Chairmanship holds it for one calendar year, and chairs the ASEAN Summit and related summits.
• The Chairman of ASEAN for 2019 is Thailand.

Member Nations

1. Indonesia
2. Malaysia
3. Philippines
4. Singapore
5. Thailand
6. Brunei
7. Vietnam
8. Laos
9. Myanmar
10. Cambodia

Genesis of ASEAN

• 1967 – ASEAN was established with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by its founding fathers.
• Founding Fathers of ASEAN are: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
• Addition of Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos and Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999).
• 1995 – Members signed a deal to create a nuclear-free zone in Southeast Asia.
• 1997 – Adoption of ASEAN Vision 2020.
• 2008 – ASEAN Charter comes into force and becomes a legally binding agreement.
• 2015 – Launch of ASEAN Community.
• 35^th ASEAN Summit – Bangkok, Thailand.
• ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars
  • ASEAN Political-Security Community
  • ASEAN Economic Community
  • ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

Objectives

• To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development.  
• To promote regional peace and stability.
• To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields.
• To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of agriculture and industries and the raising of the living standards of peoples.

ASEAN-led Forums

• ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF):
  • Launched in 1993, the twenty-seven-member multilateral grouping was developed to contribute to regional confidence-building and preventive diplomacy.
• ASEAN Plus Three:
  • The consultative group initiated in 1997 brings together ASEAN’s ten members with China, Japan, and South Korea.
• East Asia Summit (EAS):
  • First held in 2005 at Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia, the summit seeks to promote security and prosperity in the Indo – Pacific region.
  • The EAS is an ASEAN-centred forum and can only be chaired by an ASEAN member. The present Chair is Thailand.
  • It is a regional forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, and South Asian regions, based on the ASEAN Plus Six mechanism.
  • Later membership was expanded into 18 since the 6^th East Asia Summit in 2011 held at Bali in Indonesia.
  • The following countries are its members
    • 10 Members of ASEAN
    • Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Russia and the United States.

Strengths & Opportunities

• ASEAN commands far greater influence on Asia-Pacific trade, political, and security issues than its members could achieve individually.
• Demographic dividend – It constitutes 3rd largest population in the world, of which more than half is below thirty years of age.
• Economic:
  • 3rd largest market in the world - larger than EU and North American markets.
  • 6th largest economy in the world, 3rd in Asia.
• Free-trade agreements (FTAs) with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
• Fourth most popular investment destination globally.
• ASEAN’s share of global exports has also risen, from only 2 percent in 1967 to 7 percent by 2016, indicating the rising importance of trade to ASEAN’s economic prospects.
• The ASEAN Single Aviation Market and Open Skies policies have increased its transport and connectivity potential.
• ASEAN has contributed to regional stability by building much-needed norms and fostering a neutral environment to address shared challenges.

35^th ASEAN Summit

• The 35^th Summit of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) began in Bangkok, Thailand.
• It is a biannual meeting.
• The theme of 35^th ASEAN Summit is - Advancing Partnership for sustainability.
• Head of the Summit – Thailand (2019), Singapore (2018)

• Apart from 10 members countries, 10 dialogue partner countries also participated in the summit.

India and ASEAN

• India's relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of her foreign policy and the foundation of Act East Policy.
• India has a separate mission to ASEAN and the EAS in Jakarta.
• India and ASEAN already have 25 years of Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of Summit Level interaction and 5 years of Strategic Partnership with ASEAN.
• Economic Cooperation:
  • ASEAN is India's fourth largest trading partner.
  • India's trade with ASEAN stands at approx. 10.6% of India's overall trade.
  • India's export to ASEAN stands at 11.28% of our total exports.
  • The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area has been completed.
  • ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC) was set up in 2003 to bring key private sector players from India and the ASEAN countries on a single platform.
• Socio-Cultural Cooperation:
  • Programmes to boost People-to-People Interaction with ASEAN, such as inviting ASEAN students to India, Special Training Course for ASEAN diplomats, Exchange of Parliamentarians, etc.
• Funds:
  • Financial assistance has been provided to ASEAN countries from the following Funds:
    • ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund
    • ASEAN-India S&T Development Fund
    • ASEAN-India Green Fund
• Delhi Declaration:
  • To identify Cooperation in the Maritime Domain as the key area of cooperation under the ASEAN-India strategic partnership.
• ASEAN-India Centre (AIC):
  • To undertake policy research, advocacy and networking activities with organizations and think-tanks in India and ASEAN.

16^th India ASEAN Summit

• The Indian Prime Minister attended the 16^th ASEAN-India Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.
• The Indian Prime Minister highlighted the importance of Myanmar to India's Look East Policy and the Neighbourhood First policies.
• India plans to host a business event for the CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam) in Yangon at the end of November 2019.
• India and Indonesia commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
• The PM also addressed the Indian community at the 'Sawasdee PM Modi' event in Bangkok.
• In the Thai language, the word ‘Sawasdee’ is used for greetings and goodbye.
• Along with this Summit, the other summits that took place in Thailand are
  • 35^th ASEAN Summit
  • 14^th East Asia Summit, and
  • 3^rd meeting of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

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