ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established in 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration by the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. ASEAN now comprises ten countries, with Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam joining the five original Member States. For over fifty years ASEAN has fostered cooperation among its members, accelerated economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region, and promoted regional peace and stability. The motto of ASEAN is ‘One Vision, One Identity, One Community’.

Indonesia plays a significant role in ASEAN both as a founding member and also as the home of the ASEAN Secretariat. A new ASEAN Secretariat building in Jakarta was inaugurated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo to mark the 52nd anniversary of ASEAN on 8 August 2019. The ASEAN Secretary-General envisages the ASEAN Secretariat as being ‘the anchor for the ASEAN capital in Jakarta’.

Australia has worked closely with ASEAN over the decades, with 2019 marking the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations. Australia became ASEAN’s first dialogue partner in 1974, and this relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2014. The Australian Mission to ASEAN was established in Jakarta in September 2013.