ASEAN was established on Aug. 8, 1967, in Bangkok of Thailand, by five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei joined the group in January 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997 and Cambodia in 1999.

The region has a combined population of about 537 million, and an area of around 4.5 million square kilometers.

The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the group are: (1) to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and (2) to promote regional peace and stability by respecting justice and the rule of law to maintain friendly relations among countries in the region, and by adhering to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

In February 1976, ASEAN held its first summit on the resort island of Bali, Indonesia. During the meeting, ASEAN leaders signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in East Asia (TAC) and the Declaration of ASEAN Concord. In implementing these documents, ASEAN countries have strengthened cooperation in political, economic and military fields and took pragmatic strategies to achieve the rapid development of their economies.

The ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the ASEAN leaders on the group's 30th anniversary, agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.

In 2003, the ASEAN leaders agreed that an ASEAN Community shall be established comprising three pillars -- the ASEAN Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

In January 2007, during the 12th ASEAN summit held in Cebu, the Philippines, participants signed a series of declarations on the blueprint for the ASEAN Charter and the establishment of the ASEAN Community.

ASEAN's highest decision-making body is the ASEAN summit.

The secretary-general of ASEAN is appointed on merit and accorded ministerial status. The secretary-general, who has a five-year term, is mandated to initiate, advise, coordinate and implement ASEAN activities.

ASEAN's economic cooperation covers areas of trade, investment, industry, services, finance, agriculture, forestry, energy, transportation and communications, intellectual property, small- and medium-sized enterprises and tourism.

In the early 1990s, ASEAN initiated regional cooperation with East Asia. Now, "ASEAN plus Three" and "ASEAN plus One" (ASEAN plus China, ASEAN plus Japan and ASEAN plus South Korea) have developed into major channels for cooperation between the two regions.

In addition, ASEAN has established dialogue partnerships with the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the European Union, South Korea, China, Russia and India.

Since its establishment 40 years ago, ASEAN has made a series of achievements in promoting economic growth, the integration process and comprehensive strength of its member states, and contributed greatly to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.