ASEAN – success story of regional cooperation
Hanoi (VNA) – The 53-year history of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has proved that a united grouping with close
linkages and combined national and regional interests will be able to maintain
its central role.
The idea on an ASEAN Community was mentioned very early one, when ASEAN
leaders adopted an ASEAN Vision to 2020 in 1997. In 2003, ASEAN leaders made
the officially decision on building the ASEAN Community by 2020. Four years
later, the leaders agreed to strive to realize the goal in 2015, five years
ahead of the initial target.
Towards this goal, in January 2009, ASEAN leaders adopted a roadmap for
2009-2015 and blueprints to build the community’s three pillars – politics-security,
economy, and culture-society, with more than 800 specific action lines. An
ASEAN Charter was signed in November 2007 and took effect in December 2008,
laying the legal foundation and institutional framework for the ASEAN
Community.
Along with the building of the ASEAN Community, ASEAN also works toward deepening
its relations with partners and maintaining its centrality in the region
through cooperation frameworks integrated into the operation of each pillar of
the ASEAN Community.
The bloc has become an important partner of many countries and regional and
international organisations. All partners attach importance to their relations
with ASEAN, promote their all-round cooperation with the bloc both
multilaterally and bilaterally, assist the grouping in building the community
and support its centrality in the region.
So far 93 countries have assigned their ambassadors to the ASEAN, while
the grouping has established 54 ASEAN Committees in third countries and
international organisations to promote joint work in issues of ASEAN interest
and the bloc’s image.
The ASEAN has played the role as the main driver of cooperation and
connectivity in East Asia, especially in economy-trade. Along with building the
ASEAN Economic Community, the bloc has led the formation of a network of free
trade areas (FTAs) with each important partner such as China, Japan, the
Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, as well as pushing ahead
with diverse economic-trade cooperation programmes with major partners like the
US, Canada, the EU and Russia. ASEAN is conducting negotiations on a Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
In the context of uncertainties in the world situation and rising
competition among powers, ASEAN, with its geo-strategic position at the centre
of the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, is facing new
opportunities and challenges.
The rise of protectionism and trade frictions among powerful countries is
affecting economic and trade development in the world. Besides, the difference
in development levels among ASEAN members, as well as increasing demands for
deeper integration, requires member countries to have suitable economic
policies. ASEAN is facing the question of how to maximize opportunities, well
handle challenges and avoid the risk of lagging behind so as to continue with
sustainable development.
Ambassador Kamsiah, head of the permanent Malaysian delegation to ASEAN,
stressed that one of the major characteristics of ASEAN is consensus, which
makes it different from other regional organisations.
ASEAN is considered
a model of success of regional cooperation. Forums initiated by ASEAN have
gathered many countries and appreciated by world powers.
The formation of the ASEAN Community at the end of 2015 was the culmination
of ASEAN cooperation over the past five decades, turning the bloc into a more
closely knitted organization with important role in the region.
A historic milestone, the establishment of the ASEAN Community bears specially
importance to the bloc and the region as well as to each member nation. ASEAN
has, and will always be an important factor to peace, stability and cooperation
for development in the region, bringing practical benefits to each member
nation, particularly in creating favourable environment and conditions for
their socio-economic development and international integration.
From a region with divisions and differences, ASEAN has grown to become
a growing united community of independent countries. With total population of
nearly 650 million, ASEAN is a dynamic economy with GDP reaching 2,950 billion
USD in 2018. The bloc has established its central position in regional
structures with respect and cooperation with world powers and many partners in
the world./.