ASEAN

ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an organization that was
founded on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Its original charter counted five member-countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Since then, five other nations have joined:
Brunei in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Myanmar and Laos in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.

Objectives:
(1) to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural
development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality
and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and
peaceful community of Southeast Asian nations
(2) to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for
justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region
and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.






Articles


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ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment (ACTI) - ACTI is a five-year technical assistance program as part of
the United States increasing engagement and cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

1. ASEAN-INDIA STUDENTS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
Held in September 2011

Details:
India hosted a group of 100 students from ASEAN countries in September 2011.

To serve as a familiarization tool to build greater cultural and economic understanding
between the two dynamic regions of Asia

Aims:
To create next-generation connectivity between Indian and ASEAN youth that will
facilitate increasing mutual understanding of the two vibrant and dynamic Asian
regions

To highlight the rich and ancient cultural heritage of India and the historical symbiosis
between civilizations of the two sides as reflected in age-old travel, trade and cultural
interchanges

https://www.aseanindia.com/students-exchange-programme/

2. ASEAN, UNITED STATES LAUNCH NEW COOPERATION PROGRAMMES
06 December 2013

Details:
Highlighted joint promotion of trade and investment, good governance, combating
transnational crimes such as trafficking in persons and wildlife trafficking, and
promoting people-to-people ties through youth engagement activities

Launched two new five-year flagship programs totalling $30 million based at the
ASEAN Secretariat.

ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment
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will support the implementation of the
ASEAN Economic Community in the areas of customs integration, trade and investment
facilitation, small and medium-sized enterprises, clean and efficient energy, and
information and communication technologies.

http://www.asean.org/news/asean-secretariat-news/item/asean-united-states-launch-new-
cooperation-programmes
3. ASEAN Leaders Agree to Haze Monitoring System
October 2013:
The 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
agreed to adopt a system to jointly monitor haze to combat yearly pollution.
What is already present to prevent haze issues?

The ASEAN Agreement on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution is an environmental

agreement established in 2002 between all ASEAN nations to
reduce haze pollution in Southeast Asia
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The Agreement recognises that trans-boundary haze pollution which result from land
and/or forest fires should be mitigated through concerted national efforts and
international cooperation.
The agreement is a reaction to an environmental crisis that hit Southeast Asia in the
late 1990s.
However, why are there still haze problem faced by most south-east asian
countries?
Indonesia is the only member which has still not ratified an ASEAN Agreement on
Trans-boundary Haze Pollution brokered in 2002.

The treaty aims to stop cross-border haze pollution caused by forest fires by
requiring parties to prevent burning, monitor prevention efforts, exchange information
on the problem and provide mutual help.

It also binds signatories to "respond promptly" to requests for information sought by
another country affected by the smoke and to take steps to implement their
obligations under the treaty.
Latest news from 2013 about resolutions for haze problems:
To share satellite data to help them locate fires and determine when fires are
occurring on land owned by plantation companies.

Indonesia finally agreed to ratify a decade-old ASEAN agreement to combat
pollution generated by burning. It said it would submit its request to parliament to
begin the process.
Sources:
1. http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2013/10/10/asean-leaders-agree-to-haze-
monitoring-system/
2. http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/se-asia/story/asean-urges-indonesia-
ratify-treaty-tackling-haze-problem-20130630
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASEAN_Agreement_on_Transboundary_Haze_Pollution