Founding of ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded on 8 August 1967 through the Bangkok Declaration. Malaysia was one of the five founding members, alongside Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Malaysia was represented by its Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, together with foreign ministers such as Adam Malik (Indonesia), Narciso Ramos (Philippines), S. Rajaratnam (Singapore) and Thanat Khoman (Thailand).
Goals and milestones
ASEAN aims to promote regional peace, economic growth and cooperation. Key milestones include:
- The ZOPFAN declaration (Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality) signed in Kuala Lumpur in 1971.
- The first ASEAN Summit in Bali in 1976, which produced the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
- The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), launched in 1992 to reduce trade barriers.
- The Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) treaty in 1995.
Over time, membership grew to ten nations, adding Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos and Myanmar (1997) and Cambodia (1999).
Key idea
As a founding ASEAN member, Malaysia has used the grouping to keep Southeast Asia peaceful, neutral and economically integrated.
Remember
- ASEAN founded on 8 August 1967 via the Bangkok Declaration.
- Five founders including Malaysia (Tun Abdul Razak).
- ZOPFAN signed in Kuala Lumpur, 1971.
- AFTA launched in 1992; membership later grew to ten.