Backgrounder: ASEAN Community's building process

Backgrounder: ASEAN Community's building process

The 19th Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit kicked off in the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Thursday, bringing the region one step closer in the making of the ASEAN community.

The building process started in 2003 when heads of ASEAN member countries resolved at the 9th ASEAN Summit that an ASEAN community shall be established marking by the signing of the Bali Concord II.

At the 12th ASEAN Summit in January 2007, the leaders affirmed their strong commitment to accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015 and signed the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

The ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

Each pillar has its own blueprint, and, together with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Strategic Framework and IAI Work Plan Phase II (2009-2015), they form the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2015.

The ASEAN Charter, entered into force in 2008, serves as a firm foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community by providing legal status and institutional framework for the ASEAN. It also codifies ASEAN norms, rules and values, sets clear targets for the ASEAN, and presents accountability and compliance.

In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement among the 10 ASEAN member states.

To enhance capacity building, the ASEAN has set up ASEAN Coordinating Council and three ASEAN Community Councils including the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council, the ASEAN Economic Community Council and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council.

The ASEAN, established in 1967, groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

English.news.cn   2011-11-17 09:26:29 FeedbackPrintRSS
BALI, Indonesia, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)