Bangkok, 9 August 2021 (TDI): August 8th marks the 54th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Founded on 31 July 1961, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia organized the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) in Bangkok, Thailand. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand to promote political and economic cooperation and regional stability. Brunei joined in 1984, and Vietnam joined ASEAN as its seventh member in 1995. Laos and Burma were admitted into full membership in July 1997 as ASEAN celebrated its 30th anniversary. Cambodia became ASEAN’s tenth member in 1999. These 10 Member States now compose the ASEAN.
The ASEAN Declaration in 1967 formalized the principles of peace and cooperation to which ASEAN is dedicated. It aims to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region, to promote regional peace, collaboration, and mutual assistance on matters of common interest. It entered into force in December 2008, establishing its legal identity as an international organization and efforts toward its community-building process. Later, ASEAN expanded externally along with its growing Dialogue Partners.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the observation and commemoration of the 54th year of ASEAN was held online via ASEAN’s social media platforms. The heads or representatives of ASEAN, officials, diplomats, and foreign ministers, across countries, expressed their wishes to ASEAN. And today highlights Brunei Darussalam’s ASEAN Chair 2021 theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper’.
