The Presidium Minister for Political Affairs/ Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, the Deputy Prime Minister of
Malaysia, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines,
the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore and the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Thailand:
MINDFULinterests and common problems among
countries of of the existence of mutual South-East Asia and
convinced of the need to strengthen further the existing bonds of
regional solidarity and cooperation;
DESIRINGfor common action to promote regional
cooperation in to establish a firm foundation South-East Asia in
the spirit of equality and partnership and thereby contribute
towards peace, progress and prosperity in the region;
CONSCIOUSinterdependent world, the cherished
ideals of peace, that in an increasingly freedom,,social justice
and economic well-being are best attained by fostering good
understanding, good neighbourliness and meaningful cooperation
among the countries of the region already bound together by ties
of history and culture;
CONSIDERINGSouth~East Asia share a primary
responsibflity for that the countries of strengtliening the
economic and social stability of the region and ensuring their
peacefu~l and progressive national development, and that they are
determined to ensure their stability and security from external
interference in any form or manifestation in order to preserve
their national identities in accordance with the ideals and
aspirations of their peoples;
AFFIRMINGtemporary and remain only with the
expressed that all foreign bases are concurrence of the countries
concerned and are not intended to be used directly or indirectly
to subvert the national independence and freedom of States in the
area or prejudice the orderly processes of their national
development;
DO HEREBY DECLARE:
FIRST, the establishment of an Association
for Regional Cooperation among the countries of South-East Asia
to be known as the Association of South-East Asian Nations
(ASEAN).
SECOND, that the aims and purposes of the
Association shall be:
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 South-East
Asian Nations;
2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding
respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among
countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the
United Nations Charter;
3. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on
matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural,
technical, scientific and administrative fields;
4. To provide assistance to each other in the form of training
and research facflities in the educational, professional,
technical and administrative spheres;
5. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilization of
their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade,
including the study of the problems of international commodity
trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications
facilities and the raising of the living standards of their
peoples;
6. To promote South-East Asian studies;
7. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing
international and regional organizations with similar aims and
purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation
among themselves.
THIRD, that to carry out these aims and
purposes, the following machinery shall be established:
(a) Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers, which shall be by
rotation and referred to as ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. Special
Meetings of Foreign Ministers may be convened as required.
(b) A Standing committee, under the chairmanship of the Foreign
Minister of the host country or his representative and having as
its members the accredited Ambassadors of the other member
countries, to carry on the work of the Association in between
Meetings of Foreign Ministers.
(c) Ad-Hoc Committees and Permanent Committees of specialists and
officials on specific subjects.
(d) A National Secretariat in each member country to carry out
the work of the Association on behalf of that country and to
service the Annual or Special Meetings of Foreign Ministers, the
Standing Committee and such other committees as may hereafter be
established.
FOURTH, that the Association is open for
participation to all States in the South-East Asian Region
subscribing to the aforementioned aims, principles and purposes.
FIFTH, that the Association represents the
collective will of the nations of South-East Asia to bind
themselves together in friendship and cooperation and, through
joint efforts and sacrifices, secure for their peoples and for
posterity the blessings of peace, freedom and prosperity.
DONE in Bangkok on the Eighth Day of August in the Year One
Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty-Seven.