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Refers to the Asean countries. Association of Southeast Asian Nations - ASEAN. Free trading zone

What is ASEAN? In this article you will find information about the goals of creation, the history of the international organization, as well as about its member countries. What is the impact of ASEAN on world politics? How deep is the Association's partnership with Russia?

ASEAN is...

Association of SouthEast Asian Nations - this is exactly what the name of this one sounds. Literally, it can be translated as follows: "Association of Southeast Asian Nations". Thus, if you add the first letters of all the words in this name, you can get the abbreviation ASEAN. This abbreviation was fixed as a designation of the structure.

The organization emerged on the political map of Asia in 1967. The area of the association is quite large: 4.5 million square kilometers, the total population is almost 600 million people.

ASEAN is an organization within which cooperation takes place in three areas: economic, political, and cultural. It should be noted that the association is often criticized (mainly by the leaders of Western states) for being too soft on human rights and freedoms. With regard to ASEAN, Western media often use the rhetoric of "a lot of words, but little sense."

History of the organization

In the 60s, an important event took place on the world political arena - the collapse of the colonial system. Many countries in Africa and Asia are gaining independence. Under these conditions, the leaders of the young and sovereign states of Southeast Asia feared that powerful neighboring powers would begin to interfere in their internal affairs. Thus, the main goal of creating ASEAN (as well as its key concept) is to ensure neutrality and prevent any possible interstate conflicts in the region.

The official creation date of the organization is August 8, 1967. The "fathers" of ASEAN are the foreign ministers of five countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore). A little later, five more members joined the association.

at the present stage

The main goals of ASEAN include the following:

ensuring stability and peace in the region (in accordance with the principles of the UN);
establishing and maintaining mutually beneficial cooperation with other world formations;
stimulation of the socio-economic and cultural development of the participating countries.

The main document of the organization is the ASEAN charter, which, in fact, can be considered its constitution. It approved the fundamental principles of the association's activities. Among them:

Respect and observance of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the member countries of the organization.
Peaceful and constructive resolution of all disputes and conflicts.
Respect for human rights.
Development in the field of trade.

ASEAN members devote a lot of time and energy to issues of military-political stability in their region. So, in the late 1990s, they adopted an agreement that prohibits nuclear weapons in the countries of Southeast Asia.

ASEAN countries are also actively cooperating in the field of sports. With an interval of two years, the so-called South Asian Games (a kind of analogue of the Olympic Games) are held in the region. Members of the association also plan to submit a joint application for the right to host football in 2030.

ASEAN countries: list of participants

The scale of this international organization is regional and covers ten states of Southeast Asia.

Let's list all the ASEAN countries. The list is:

Indonesia.
Malaysia.
Philippines.
Thailand.
Singapore.
Cambodia.
Vietnam.
Laos.
Myanmar.
Brunei.

The first five states on the list are the founders of the organization, the rest joined it later.

The ASEAN headquarters is located in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.

The structure of the organization and features of its work

The highest body of the structure is the leaders, which include the heads of state and government of the participating countries. The ASEAN summit usually lasts three days.

The association works actively and fruitfully. Every year, ASEAN countries hold at least three hundred different meetings and events. On a permanent basis, the work of the organization is managed by a secretariat headed by the Secretary General. Each year, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is led by a new secretary from the next ASEAN country (in alphabetical order).

Within the framework of preventive diplomacy in 1994, the ASEAN Regional Forum was created.

Emblem and flag

The organization has its own official symbols. This is the emblem, flag and motto.

The motto of the association is: One Vision. One Identity. One Community, which can be translated as "One look, one essence, one society."

The main one is a red circle with ten connected stalks of rice (the main plant symbol of the Southeast Asian region). Obviously, the rice stalks represent the unity of the ten ASEAN countries. In May 1997, the above-described emblem was approved and placed on a rectangular blue panel of standard sizes.

ASEAN Free Trade Area

The creation of a zone conducive to the unhindered movement of goods within the ASEAN member countries is one of the main achievements of the described organization. The corresponding agreement was signed in the winter of 1992 in Singapore.

In 2007, ASEAN for the first time announced plans to conclude similar agreements with Japan, China, South Korea and some other states as part of the creation of the ASEAN economic community. A free trade agreement with Australia and New Zealand was signed already in February 2009. Three years ago, in 2013, the first talks were held in Indonesia, where the prospect of creating a "Comprehensive Regional Economic Partnership" was discussed.

Further prospects for expansion of the organization

ASEAN currently has 10 members. Two more states (Papua New Guinea and East Timor) have the status of observers in the organization.

Back in the 1990s, members of the association tried to involve Japan, South Korea, and China in ASEAN integration. However, these plans failed largely due to the active intervention of the United States. Nevertheless, further integration processes in the region still continued. In 1997, a block of countries was formed in the ASEAN plus three format. After that, a major summit took place, in which not only the three above-mentioned states were involved, but also Australia, New Zealand and India.

In the spring of 2011, the authorities of East Timor announced their intention to join the group of ASEAN member countries. The corresponding statement was made at the organization's summit in Jakarta. Indonesia then very warmly welcomed the official delegation of East Timor.

Another promising member of ASEAN is called Papua New Guinea. This state has had observer status in the association since 1981. Despite the fact that this is a country from Melanesia, it closely cooperates with the organization in the economic sphere.

International partnership in the system "ASEAN - Russia"

The Russian Federation began establishing a dialogue with the organization in question back in 1996. During this time, several declarations of partnership were signed.

Dialogue between Russia and ASEAN deepened further after the signing of the first Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (the so-called Bali Treaty of 1976) in November 2004. A year later, Malaysia hosted the Russia-ASEAN summit, in which Vladimir Putin took part. The next such meeting was held in 2010 in Hanoi. In addition, the Russian Foreign Minister regularly participates in conferences and meetings of the Association in the "ASEAN +1" and "ASEAN +10" formats.

Russia has close historical ties with a number of member countries of this organization. For example, with Vietnam (in the field of gas production and nuclear energy). According to some experts, relations between Hanoi and Moscow are in no way inferior in importance to Russian-Chinese relations. That is why the further deepening of cooperation with ASEAN is a priority task for Russia's foreign policy.

In 2016, the Russian Federation and the organization will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the partnership. The coming year has already been declared in the states of the Association as the Year of Russian Culture.

Finally...

ASEAN is an organization whose members cooperate in many areas. The association arose after the collapse of the world colonial system.

Today, the ASEAN countries are ten independent states in Southeast Asia. Their cooperation contributed to the solution of a large number of contentious issues in various fields.

The supreme body of ASEAN is the meetings of heads of state and government. The governing and coordinating body is the annual meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs. The day-to-day activities of ASEAN are managed by the Standing Committee, chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country hosting the next meeting of foreign ministers. Jakarta hosts a permanent Secretariat headed by the ASEAN Secretary General.

History of formation and political development.

The first steps towards interstate cooperation in Southeast Asia can be found back in the years of the Cold War, but then it was of a pronounced military-political nature and was reduced to participation in the global confrontation between the two systems, for example, as part of such an odious bloc as SEATO (Organization treaties of the countries of Southeast Asia). Attempts at interstate associations on an economic basis were of a subordinate nature and could not claim an independent role in international relations (for example, the Association of Southeast Asia). In this regard, ASEAN, which arose on the eve of the period of detente, was more fortunate. It has managed to develop into a non-military regional association of countries with high international prestige.

The Association was established by decision of the Foreign Ministers' Conference of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok. The adopted ASEAN Declaration set the following goals:

– acceleration of economic development, social and cultural progress of the countries of Southeast Asia (SEA);

– strengthening peace and regional stability;

- expansion of active cooperation and mutual assistance in the field of economy, culture, science, technology and training;

– development of more effective cooperation in the sphere of industry and agriculture;

- expanding mutual trade and raising the living standards of citizens of the participating countries;

– establishment of strong and mutually beneficial cooperation with other international and regional organizations.

The Declaration noted that ASEAN is open to all countries of Southeast Asia, recognizing its principles, goals and objectives. This document fixed the status of the annual conference of foreign ministers as the main working body of ASEAN, competent to make decisions on the implementation of the provisions of the Declaration, discuss the fundamental problems of the Association's activities, and resolve issues of admission of new members.

An important step in the political development of ASEAN was the adoption in November 1971 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality in Southeast Asia. It stated that the neutralization of the region is a "desirable goal", that all participating countries will make the necessary efforts to ensure recognition and respect for Southeast Asia as a zone that rejects outside interference. The neutralization plan assumed the settlement of contradictions at two levels: among the ASEAN members themselves and between ASEAN and extra-regional powers ready to accept an obligation to recognize the neutral status of the ASEAN sub-region and guarantee non-interference in its internal affairs.

The end of the Second Indochinese War in the spring of 1975 gave a powerful impetus to the development of the legal and organizational base of ASEAN. At the first ASEAN summit on about. Bali (Indonesia), have been approved Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and Declaration of Consent. The first document consolidated the principles by which the five founding states of the Association undertook to be guided in the development of mutual relations, as well as in the settlement of emerging disputes and conflicts. The agreement, in particular, provided that the ASEAN partners would make efforts to peacefully resolve emerging mutual contradictions in the interests of strengthening peace in the region, renounce the threat of the use of force, and resolve all contentious issues through friendly negotiations. The text of the Treaty reflected the idea of turning Southeast Asia into a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality. The ASEAN Declaration of Consent proclaimed that the "five" countries that founded it, jointly and individually, would strive to create favorable conditions for the establishment and development of cooperation between the states of Southeast Asia.

In organizational terms, the Bali Summit decided to establish a permanent ASEAN Secretariat and appoint a Secretary General on a rotating basis. Indonesian diplomat Hartono Rektoharsono became the first general secretary. An agreement was reached on the establishment of an ASEAN Interparliamentary Organization (AIPO).

The ASEAN leaders considered the problems of neutralization and ensuring security in close connection with giving the region a nuclear-free status. Due to the particular complexity of the problem, it was only in 1995 that the participating States were able to approach the signing Treaty on the Establishment of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Southeast Asia(South-East Asia Nuclear Free Zone). However, for its practical entry into force, it is necessary to sign a separate protocol to the Treaty by all nuclear powers. Its signing is hampered by disagreements over whether India and Pakistan should be considered nuclear powers. The fate of the Treaty depends on the recognition or non-recognition of the nuclear status of these countries by ASEAN and other nuclear powers.

In 1994, within the framework of preventive diplomacy, on the initiative of ASEAN, the mechanism of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was launched. Its task is to ensure, through dialogue and consultations, a conflict-free development of the situation both in Southeast Asia and in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR). The ASEAN countries and their extra-regional dialogue partners, including Russia, the United States, China, Japan, and others, participate in the annual meetings of the ARF. The ARF participants set the task of moving from the implementation of confidence-building measures through preventive diplomacy to the creation of a reliable security system in the Asia-Pacific region. There are two "tracks" within the ARF. The first is a dialogue at the official intergovernmental level, the second - between non-governmental organizations and academic circles.

Considering the particular complexity and potential explosiveness of the situation in the South China Sea, where the territorial claims of six coastal states and territories (Brunei, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines) collide and mutually overlap, the ASEAN countries in 1992 came out with Manila Declaration. She called all the parties involved will confine themselves to peaceful means in settling disputed issues, as well as avoid actions to militarize the islands located in the waters of the South China Sea (SCI) and start joint development of their resources. In July 1996 in Jakarta, at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference, the idea was put forward of adopting a "regional code of conduct" in the South Caucasus, which would be the foundation for strengthening mutual understanding in this region. However, as of late 2002, the terms and timing of the adoption of such a code are the subject of protracted debate between ASEAN and China.

Annual post-ministerial meetings with representatives of regional partners (USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, India, EU) have become regular on a "10 + 1" scheme, that is, the ASEAN "ten" plus one of partners. The annual ASEAN events are as follows: the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference, the ARF meeting, post-ministerial dialogue meetings with non-regional partners.

In 1996, at the initiative of Singapore, regular meetings began to be held within the framework of the Asia-European Dialogue (ASEM - The Asia Europe Meeting, ASEM) as a form of interregional interaction. ASEAN attaches great importance to it, due to the fact that the 25 European and Asian countries united in ASEM accounted for 54% of world GDP and 57% of international trade (1995). However, with the entry of Myanmar into ASEAN, the work of the AED began to stall due to sharp criticism by the European Union of the human rights situation in this country, in particular, the methods of suppressing the opposition by the military government of Myanmar.

Since 1997, meetings of the top ten leaders with the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea have become regular. They were initiated by Malaysia, which is striving to create a kind of trade and economic bloc in the Pacific Asia region. As conceived by Kuala Lumpur, its creation would level the positions of East Asian countries in dialogue with such regional associations as the EU and the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA).

Military-political cooperation.

The leaders of the ASEAN countries throughout the entire 35-year history of the Association categorically rejected the possibility and desirability of its transformation into a military-political bloc. The basis for this point of view is a set of objective reasons:

- different experience of the participation of the armed forces of the member countries in the process of achieving national independence and the associated mentality of the military states of ASEAN;

- continuing mutual territorial and border claims between the ASEAN partners;

– lack of a production and technological base for standardization and unification of weapons and military equipment, orientation towards various external sources of arms supplies;

- understanding that the total defensive potential of ASEAN is not capable of providing serious counteraction to external threats or direct aggressive actions.

Given these factors, military cooperation within ASEAN initially acquired the character of bilateral or trilateral cooperation to suppress left-wing radical rebel movements in neighboring areas (Malaysia-Thailand, Malaysia-Indonesia), exchange of intelligence information, and conduct joint exercises.

With the decline of insurgency in the late 1980s and early 1990s (with the exception of the Philippines), the focus shifted to joint action against illegal migration, piracy, drug trafficking, and in the early 2000s against regional terrorism.

Assessing the military-political situation in Southeast Asia as generally stable, ASEAN members strive to maintain the balance of power of the major powers in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR). This means maintaining the US military presence. Thailand and the Philippines maintain their previous military-political agreements with Washington on joint defense and military assistance. The territory of these countries is used to maintain the American presence in the region, the transit of the US Air Force and Navy for operations in "hot spots", including the Persian Gulf. As part of the US global anti-terrorism campaign, a group of US military personnel was deployed in the Philippines to fight the local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. Malaysia and Singapore are part of the Five-Party Defense Agreement, along with the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, the military-political doctrines of the ASEAN countries are being corrected in order to adequately respond to the changing situation in the Asia-Pacific region. International experts believe that this is not least due to the growth of China's potential, which has, in fact, become a regional military superpower. Other causes include economic losses from coastal piracy, illegal migration and smuggling. The ASEAN countries are focusing on equipping the armed forces with modern weapons systems capable of ensuring the defense of their territory, as well as the sea area - a zone of economic interests of these countries.

The problem of international terrorism.

The ASEAN countries quickly responded to the challenge of international terrorism, which directly affected Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. At a meeting in Brunei in November 2001, a Declaration on Joint Action to Counter Terrorism. It expresses the determination to intensify joint and individual efforts to prevent, counter and suppress the activities of terrorist groups in the region. An intention was expressed to continue practical cooperation in this area both within the Association and the international community.

A special ministerial meeting in May 2002 in Kuala Lumpur adopted a "work plan" that provides for an increase in the level of interaction between law enforcement agencies of the "ten" and an increase in the exchange of information in order to combat terrorism.

The next declaration on the problem of terrorism was adopted by the regular, eighth in a row, ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh in November 2002. It again strongly condemns terror. At the same time, disagreement with "the tendency of some quarters to identify terrorism with a particular religion or ethnic group" is emphasized.

In Kuala Lumpur, work is underway to create a Regional Anti-Terrorist Center, and a regional conference is planned to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorist activities.

Economic cooperation.

Economic cooperation within ASEAN is concentrated mainly in the field of trade and is aimed at creating an ASEAN free trade area. The decision on the free trade area (AFTA) was made at the 4th summit of the Association in 1992 in Singapore. It was seen as an important step in deepening regional cooperation, the initial stage on the path of economic integration in the likeness of the European Union (the main initiators of AFTA were Singapore and Malaysia, which had the most developed trade ties in the region).

It was decided by 2003 to create a single market for goods, within which tariffs on industrial products would not exceed 5% or would be completely eliminated before 2006.

The agreement entered into force in January 1993 and, to a certain extent due to this, inter-ASEAN trade increased from $80 billion to $155 billion in 1996 over the next five years.

The main instrument for implementing the AFTA agreements was the agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff of the ASEAN countries (CEPT - The Common Effective Preferential Tariff, CEPT). According to it, four lists are determined annually:

1. goods for which tariffs are subject to unconditional reduction;

2. goods, the tariffs for which are officially approved for reduction, but the issue of their entry into force is postponed for a specially stipulated period of time (for a quarter, for a year, etc.);

3. tariffs for which are the subject of discussion, however, due to the vulnerability of this category of goods from external competition for any of the ASEAN countries, the issue of their liberalization is postponed to a later date (for example, the automotive industry, which is vulnerable to most ASEAN members);

4. tariffs that are completely excluded from the liberalization process (for example, for agricultural products).

In December 1995, it was decided to speed up the completion of the creation of AFTA from 15 to 10 years, completely reducing tariffs to the level of 0–5% by 2003, and, if possible, by 2000. It was established that the list of goods for CEPT is approved at the annual meetings of ministers of economy of the ASEAN countries , and the ongoing work of harmonizing commodity lists is handled by the AFTA Council, chaired in turn by one of these ministers.

Thanks to the gradual expansion of the range of goods subject to tariff liberalization, as well as Vietnam's accession to AFTA, the CEPT lists by mid-1997 included over 42,000 items, or about 85% of intra-ASEAN trade. On January 1, 1998, Laos and Myanmar joined the CERT scheme, respectively, the list increased to 45 thousand items. For Vietnam, the transition period for the adoption of the CEPT ended in 2006, for other new members of ASEAN - 2008.

The "Achilles heel" of AFTA was the almost complete withdrawal from the scope of the liberalization of regional trade in agricultural products that fall under the category of "temporary exemptions". This list has grown significantly with the addition of the Indo-Chinese states and Myanmar to AFTA. A serious problem remained the liberalization of tariffs on products of the automotive industry of ASEAN members, belonging to the category of "especially sensitive" goods.

The ASEAN countries considered the creation of the ASEAN Investment Area as the main means for attracting foreign direct investment. The plan involves the elimination of intra-ASEAN barriers by 2010, non-ASEAN countries will enjoy preferential treatment from 2020. The main goal is to create a single capital market represented by ASEAN. At the initial stage, it is planned to gradually eliminate the existing restrictions and liberalize the legislation in the field of investment. All investors from ASEAN countries will receive equal status with national companies. The manufacturing sector will be opened first.

ASEAN and the Asian financial crisis of 1997.

The financial and monetary crisis that erupted in mid-1997 dealt a painful blow to the economic development of the ASEAN countries. The national currencies of most members of the Six were under attack. The Malaysian ringit depreciated by 40%, the Thai baht - by 55%. And the Indonesian rupiah is 80%. Incomes of the population in dollar terms have halved. For Malaysia, for example, a 40% devaluation of the ringit meant a reduction in per capita income from $5,000 to $3,000.

There was a reduction in intra-ASEAN trade (from $154.3 billion in 1996 to $131 billion in 1997). There were gloomy forecasts regarding the further development of AFTA. Although, theoretically, the devaluation of national currencies opened up good prospects for boosting exports, a sharp shortage of liquid funds, an increase in discount rates for bank loans, and a reduction in demand negated the resulting advantages. The point of view has become widespread that the implementation of AFTA will go backwards if national egoism and the desire to get out of the crisis at the expense of partners prevail in ASEAN.

In 1997 there was a 40% reduction in foreign direct investment. The financial crisis, which led to a flight of banking capital, a reduction in production and domestic consumption, made the region less and less attractive for transnational corporations. Signs of increasing political instability in some ASEAN countries, especially in Indonesia, had a serious deterrent effect.

The response to the financial crisis that engulfed East Asia and the split that emerged in the ranks of ASEAN was the document adopted at the initiative of Malaysia at the summit in Kuala Lumpur in December 1997. ASEAN Vision 2020. It stated that by 2020, ASEAN will become "a harmonious union open for dialogue in all directions, living in conditions of peace, stability and prosperity, bound by partnership in dynamic development and the humane principles of its constituent societies."

Deciphering this definition, the document stated that in almost two decades, Southeast Asia should become a nuclear-free zone of peace, freedom and neutrality, as envisaged by the Kuala Lumpur Declaration in 1971. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation of 1976 should fully become a code of conduct binding on governments of the countries of the region, and the ARF as a solid tool for the implementation of confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy. The document spoke about the emergence of a common regional identity, about the collective responsibility for solving such problems as the preservation of the environment, the fight against drug addiction and cross-border crime. Revising the world role of ASEAN, the document interpreted the organization's openness as an active participation in the international life of the planet, including through the intensification of relations with dialogue partners. However, due to the consequences of the monetary and financial crisis of 1997, ASEAN's development in this direction was temporarily halted.

With the aim of gradually moving towards the implementation of the concept of "ASEAN Vision 2020", at the summit of the Association in 1998 was adopted Hanoi Action Plan for a six year period. He assumed:

– strengthening macroeconomic and financial cooperation;

– closer trade and economic integration;

- ensuring progress in the scientific and technical sphere and the development of information technologies, the creation of an all-regional computer information network;

– progress in the social sphere, especially in terms of overcoming the negative impact of financial and economic crises;

– development of labor resources;

- environmental protection, creation of specialized agencies for meteorology and forest fire prevention;

- Strengthening regional peace and stability, including the creation of the Supreme Council for Coordinating the Observance of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia;

- Encouraging non-regional partners and other interested countries to join the Treaty in order to turn it into a code of conduct between the states of Southeast Asia and the outside world;

- strengthening the role of ASEAN as an effective tool for ensuring peace, fair order and modernization in the Asia-Pacific region and throughout the world;

- ensuring a worthy place for ASEAN in international relations;

- Improving the structure and mechanisms of ASEAN.

In practical terms, the implementation of this plan is stalling, the details of its implementation are being discussed at the level of ministries and departments of the ASEAN member countries.

The adoption of such ambitious concepts and an action plan could not stop the emergence of some negative trends in the development of the Association, namely the revision of the fundamental principles of non-interference in each other's internal affairs, as well as decision-making on the basis of consensus. ASEAN has clearly shown a tendency to solve emerging financial and economic problems on the basis of separate solutions.

In particular, as early as 1998, the leaders of Thailand and the Philippines voiced calls to put into practice the concept of "flexible or limited intervention" in the affairs of those partners in the "top ten" in which sources of internal destabilization appear. This was due to a series of internal political crises that engulfed the countries of Southeast Asia in 1996-1998 (1996 - Cambodia, 1997 - Myanmar and Malaysia, 1998 - Indonesia).

The second trend was manifested in the lack of unity on the issue of ways to overcome the monetary and financial crisis of 1997. While Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines fully accepted the recommendations of the IMF and the World Bank, Malaysia chose an independent course based on strengthening state regulation of the country's financial and economic sector. Subsequently, Malaysia sharply criticized Singapore's course towards concluding separate free trade agreements with non-regional partners.

Challenges and dilemmas of ASEAN in the medium term.

Among the difficulties that arise when analyzing the prospects for the development of ASEAN in the near future, international experts tend to name the following problems:

- adaptation of new members within ASEAN (Indochina countries, Myanmar) and alignment of development levels based on a market economy with varying degrees of government intervention;

- the contradiction between maintaining the current interstate status of ASEAN as an Association based on the principles of consensus and mutual consultations, and moving towards an organization with supranational governing bodies following the example of the European Union;

- the question of the national authenticity of Indonesia (unitary or federal structure, the prospect of disintegration and interethnic conflicts, following the example of the former Yugoslavia);

- territorial and border disputes within ASEAN (Malaysia-Singapore, Malaysia-Philippines, Malaysia-Indonesia);

- issues related to the inclusion of the ASEAN countries in the process of globalization: the reform of power structures, overcoming negative socio-economic consequences;

- the prospect of absorbing ASEAN through the creation of a larger East Asian Economic Community (ASEAN, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea).

All these factors weaken the process of regional integration within ASEAN and make it a much more amorphous organization than the EU or NAFTA. At the same time, the common geographical position, the proximity of historical destinies, the common ideology of nationalism stimulate the rapprochement of the ASEAN countries.

Regional integration within ASEAN conflicts with such global forums as the WTO or APEC. It can be said that two parallel processes are observed in Southeast Asia. On the one hand, strengthening regional cooperation. On the other hand, the inclusion of the ASEAN countries in the process of economic globalization. The intertwining of these two conflicting trends is at the heart of discussions about the future of ASEAN.

Russia and ASEAN.

The Association countries believe that Russia is and will remain a great Eurasian power, that regional security will benefit from its involvement in the most important political and world economic processes in the APR and Southeast Asia.

Since 1992, Russia has been participating in ASEAN post-ministerial conferences on a regular basis, being one of the dialogue partners of the Association. Since 1994 - in the work of the ARF on security issues. At the initiative of the Russian Federation, the documents of the Forum found a place for the idea of gradual progress from establishing confidence-building measures through the stage of preventive diplomacy to creating a system of regional security covering Pacific Asia.

Since mid-1997, the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee began to operate, meetings of which are periodically held in Moscow or in one of the ASEAN capitals. The Russia Foundation, provided for by dialogue relations, has been created and is operating – ASEAN, dealing with the problems of bilateral economic, trade, scientific and technical cooperation. Representatives of both official, business and academic circles participate in its activities.

Russia's trade relations with the ASEAN countries, which are leaders in the system of bilateral economic relations, are successfully developing. The volume of mutual trade for the period 1992-1999 amounted to over 21 billion dollars.

In this case, we can only talk about approximate data on trade with Southeast Asian countries. First, the economic activity of the so-called "shuttle traders" is not subject to statistical accounting. And secondly, the methodology for calculating trade turnover in the Russian Federation and ASEAN countries is significantly different - for example, the latter include data on banking operations in statistical reports on foreign trade, which is not accepted for Russian reporting. This explains the difference in performance.

History of formation and political development.

– acceleration of economic development, social and cultural progress of the countries of Southeast Asia (SEA);

– strengthening peace and regional stability;

- expansion of active cooperation and mutual assistance in the field of economy, culture, science, technology and training;

– development of more effective cooperation in the sphere of industry and agriculture;

- expanding mutual trade and raising the living standards of citizens of the participating countries;

– establishment of strong and mutually beneficial cooperation with other international and regional organizations.

Military-political cooperation.

- different experience of the participation of the armed forces of the member countries in the process of achieving national independence and the associated mentality of the military states of ASEAN;

- continuing mutual territorial and border claims between the ASEAN partners;

– lack of a production and technological base for standardization and unification of weapons and military equipment, orientation towards various external sources of arms supplies;

- understanding that the total defensive potential of ASEAN is not capable of providing serious counteraction to external threats or direct aggressive actions.

The problem of international terrorism.

In Kuala Lumpur, work is underway to create a Regional Anti-Terrorist Center, and a regional conference is planned to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorist activities.

Economic cooperation.

It was decided by 2003 to create a single market for goods, within which tariffs on industrial products would not exceed 5% or would be completely eliminated before 2006.

The agreement entered into force in January 1993 and, to a certain extent due to this, inter-ASEAN trade increased from $80 billion to $155 billion in 1996 over the next five years.

1. goods for which tariffs are subject to unconditional reduction;

4. tariffs that are completely excluded from the liberalization process (for example, for agricultural products).

ASEAN and the Asian financial crisis of 1997.

– strengthening macroeconomic and financial cooperation;

– closer trade and economic integration;

- ensuring progress in the scientific and technical sphere and the development of information technologies, the creation of an all-regional computer information network;

– progress in the social sphere, especially in terms of overcoming the negative impact of financial and economic crises;

– development of labor resources;

- environmental protection, creation of specialized agencies for meteorology and forest fire prevention;

- Strengthening regional peace and stability, including the creation of the Supreme Council for Coordinating the Observance of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia;

- Encouraging non-regional partners and other interested countries to join the Treaty in order to turn it into a code of conduct between the states of Southeast Asia and the outside world;

- strengthening the role of ASEAN as an effective tool for ensuring peace, fair order and modernization in the Asia-Pacific region and throughout the world;

- ensuring a worthy place for ASEAN in international relations;

- Improving the structure and mechanisms of ASEAN.

In practical terms, the implementation of this plan is stalling, the details of its implementation are being discussed at the level of ministries and departments of the ASEAN member countries.

Challenges and dilemmas of ASEAN in the medium term.

Among the difficulties that arise when analyzing the prospects for the development of ASEAN in the near future, international experts tend to name the following problems:

- adaptation of new members within ASEAN (Indochina countries, Myanmar) and alignment of development levels based on a market economy with varying degrees of government intervention;

- the question of the national authenticity of Indonesia (unitary or federal structure, the prospect of disintegration and interethnic conflicts, following the example of the former Yugoslavia);

- territorial and border disputes within ASEAN (Malaysia-Singapore, Malaysia-Philippines, Malaysia-Indonesia);

- issues related to the inclusion of the ASEAN countries in the process of globalization: the reform of power structures, overcoming negative socio-economic consequences;

- the prospect of absorbing ASEAN through the creation of a larger East Asian Economic Community (ASEAN, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea).

Russia and ASEAN.

Trade and economic organizations of the regional and subregional levels operate in the Asia-Pacific region. The latter include ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It was with this organization that the integration process in the Asia-Pacific region began, and it is in it that the most dynamic new industrial countries of Asia are united.

ASEAN includes: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines (1967), Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos (1997). Cambodia (1998).

The centripetal forces of Asian integration are: a strategically important geographical location at the crossroads of world trade routes, the transition to a liberal model of building a market economy, which implies the admission of foreign capital and the export orientation of the restructured economy.

The centrifugal forces hindering integration include differences in the level of economic development, political structure, religious and cultural traditions, as well as the insular dispersion of states.

The integration process within ASEAN includes:

in accordance with the Agreement on the Establishment of a Preferential Trade Area (1977), the provision of trade benefits to member countries;
in accordance with the AFTA Agreement (ASEAN Free Trade Arrangement) - the creation of a free trade zone. The agreement entered into force on
January 1, 2002;
ASEAN industrial cooperation schemes;
in accordance with the Framework Agreement on the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA), the liberalization of the movement of capital.

After the financial crisis of 1997-1998. ASEAN countries are focusing on attracting (non-speculative) direct investment. By 2010, it is planned to provide foreign investors with the national treatment of the host country. The concept of economic growth triangles has already received practical development (Singapore, 1989). This refers to the development of border trade and economic relations between the three neighboring countries. Such "triangles" have a more liberal regime for the cross-border movement of all factors of production and a pronounced export orientation. For example, the "Platinum Triangle", the sides of which run along the Mekong River from southern China through Cambodia and Vietnam.

In the 1970s the system of so-called ASEAN dialogues with the leading states of the world, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region, was born. Full-scale dialogue partners are 9 countries (Australia, India, Canada, China, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, USA, Japan), as well as UNDP. Dialogue interaction is carried out with the help of Joint Cooperation Committees (JCCs). This partnership served as the basis for the creation of a mechanism for in-depth interaction between ASEAN and the Eastern "troika" (China, Japan, South Korea) in the 10 + 3 format, which was formalized in 2000 and provides for holding summits in the thirteen and 10 + 1 formats in parallel with ASEAN meetings.

In December 2005, the first ever summit between Russia and ASEAN took place (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). During the meeting, two large-scale documents were signed at once: the Declaration on the Comprehensive Partnership between Russia and the ASEAN Member States and the Comprehensive Program of Action for Cooperation for 2005-2015. Mutual expansion of ties in the field of economics, politics, security (the fight against terrorism), scientific, technical and information cooperation, interaction in the field of tourism and culture is expected. In particular, an agreement was reached on visa-free travel for citizens of Russia and Thailand. Sergei Lavrov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stressed that he sees the Association as an important partner in creating a multipolar world, forming an integral system of regional security, and countering new challenges and threats.

Features of the formation of ASEAN

In recent years, integration processes in East Asia have been gaining momentum. For almost 30 years, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN, AssociationofSouthEastAsianNations- ASEAN"). It was formed on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok (Bangkok Declaration). It included Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand. Philippines, then Brunei Darussalam (in 1984). Vietnam (in 1995). Laos and Myanmar (in 1997), Cambodia (in 1999), and Papua New Guinea has observer status.

The ASEAN countries are strategically positioned on the route from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, at the crossroads connecting the Pacific Basin with the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The grouping has large reserves of natural resources. ASEAN-10, which includes all 10 countries of Southeast Asia, has actually become a large regional grouping with a total area of 4.487 million km2.

According to the Bangkok Declaration goals organizations are: “(i) accelerating economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through a common endeavor ... to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian countries, and (ii) establishing peace and stability in the region. .. through... adherence to the principles of the UN Charter.”

The adopted ASEAN Declaration stated the following: goals:

acceleration of economic development, social and cultural progress of the countries of Southeast Asia;
strengthening peace and regional stability;
expansion of active cooperation and mutual assistance of the participating countries in the field of economy, culture, science, technology and training:
development of more effective cooperation in the sphere of industry and agriculture;
expanding mutual trade and raising the living standards of citizens of the participating countries;
establishing strong and mutually beneficial cooperation with other international and regional organizations.

ASEAN is open to all Southeast Asian countries that recognize its principles, goals and objectives. This document fixes the status of the annual conference of foreign ministers as the main working body of ASEAN, competent to make decisions on the implementation of the provisions of the Declaration, discuss the fundamental problems of the Association's activities, and resolve issues of admission of new members.

Features of the development of regional economic integration within ASEAN are determined by a number of factors.

High dynamics of economic growth and political stability in the region.
Uniformity (but differentiation) of the economies of the participating countries and the resulting difficulties in expanding mutual trade.
Participation in the integration processes of the state with different levels of economic development and different political systems.

Organizational structure of ASEAN

The supreme body of ASEAN is the meetings of heads of state and government. The governing and coordinating body is the annual meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs (CMFA). Meetings of ministers responsible for other sectors are held: agriculture, fisheries, energy, environment, finance, informatization, investment, labor, justice, poverty eradication, science, technology, social security, transport, tourism, etc. An agreement was reached on the establishment of an inter-parliamentary ASEAN associations (AsianInterparliamentaryorganization- AIPO).

The current management of ASEAN activities is carried out by the Standing Committee, chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the host country of the next meeting of foreign ministers. Jakarta has a permanent Secretariat headed by the ASEAN Secretary General. The Secretary General is appointed on a rotating basis. The first General Secretary was the Indonesian diplomat Hartono Rektoharsono. The staff members of the ASEAN Secretariat are selected through open competition throughout the region.

The chairmanship of the organization is carried out in the order of priority for a period of one year in accordance with the alphabetical arrangement of countries in English. Accordingly, in 2006, the Philippines presides, in 2007, in order, Singapore. The Council of Foreign Affairs is chaired by the foreign minister of the country that led the organization last year. ASEAN has 11 specialized committees.

To support international relations in the region and beyond, ASEAN has established committees consisting of heads of diplomatic missions located in the following capitals: Brussels, London, Paris, Washington, Tokyo, Canberra, Ottawa, Wellington, Geneva, Seoul, New Delhi, New York, Beijing, Moscow, Islamabad.

Legal basis relations between the ASEAN countries is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (Bali Treaty) 1976. At present, the ASEAN member countries have developed a mechanism for the possible accession to the Treaty of non-regional states, including Russia, which invariably declares its positive attitude towards this document .

History of formation and political development

The first steps towards interstate cooperation in Southeast Asia can be found back in the Cold War years. However, then it was of a pronounced military-political nature and was reduced to participation in the global confrontation between the two systems, for example, as part of such an odious bloc as SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization). Attempts at interstate associations on an economic basis were of a subordinate nature and could not claim an independent role in international relations (for example, the Association of Southeast Asia). In this regard, ASEAN, which arose on the eve of the period of detente, was more fortunate. It has managed to develop into a non-military regional association of countries with high international prestige.

An important step in the political development of ASEAN was the adoption in November 1971 of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality in Southeast Asia. It stated that the neutralization of the region was a "desirable goal", that all participating countries would make the necessary efforts to ensure recognition and respect for Southeast Asia as a zone that rejects outside interference. The neutralization plan assumed the settlement of contradictions at two levels: among the ASEAN members themselves and between ASEAN and extra-regional powers ready to accept an obligation to recognize the neutral status of the ASEAN sub-region and guarantee non-interference in its internal affairs.

The end of the Second Indochina War in the spring of 1975 gave a powerful impetus to the development of the legal and organizational base of ASEAN. At the first ASEAN summit in Bali (Indonesia) approved Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and Declaration of consent. The first document consolidated the principles by which the five founding states of the Association undertook to be guided in the development of mutual relations, as well as in the settlement of emerging disputes and conflicts. The agreement stipulated that the ASEAN partners would make efforts to peacefully resolve emerging mutual contradictions in the interests of strengthening peace in the region, renounce the threat of the use of force, and resolve all contentious issues through friendly negotiations. The text of the Treaty reflected the idea of turning Southeast Asia into a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality. In the ASEAN Declaration of Consent, I proclaim that the "five" countries that founded it, jointly and individually, will strive to create favorable conditions for the establishment and development of cooperation between the states of Southeast Asia.

In organizational terms, the Bali summit decided to create a permanent ASEAN Secretariat, and the ASEAN leaders considered the problems of neutralization and security in close connection with giving the region a nuclear-free status. Due to the particular complexity of the problem, it was only in 1995 that the participating states managed to approach the signing Treaty on the Establishment of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Southeast Asia(South-East Asia Nuclear Free Zone). However, for its practical entry into force, it is necessary to sign a separate protocol to the Treaty by all nuclear powers. Its signing is hampered by disagreements over whether India and Pakistan should be considered nuclear powers. The fate of the Treaty depends on the recognition or non-recognition of the nuclear status of these countries by ASEAN and other nuclear powers.

In 1994, within the framework of preventive diplomacy, on the initiative of ASEAN, the mechanism of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was launched. The task of the ARF is to ensure, through dialogue and consultations, a conflict-free development of the situation in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. The ASEAN countries and their extra-regional dialogue partners, including Russia, the United States, China, Japan, and others, participate in the annual meetings of the ARF. The ARF participants set the task of moving from the implementation of confidence-building measures through preventive diplomacy to the creation of a reliable security system in the Asia-Pacific region. There are two areas of cooperation within the framework of the ARF: dialogue at the official intergovernmental level; interaction between non-governmental organizations and academia.

Taking into account the particular complexity and potential explosiveness of the situation in the South China Sea region, where the territorial claims of six coastal states and territories (Brunei, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines) collide and mutually overlap, the ASEAN countries in 1992 came out with Manila Declaration. She called on all parties involved to limit themselves to peaceful means in settling disputed issues, as well as to avoid actions to militarize the islands located in the South China Sea and start joint development of their resources. In July 1996, at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference in Jakarta, the idea of adopting a "regional code of conduct" in the South China Sea region was put forward, which would be the foundation for strengthening mutual understanding in this region. However, as of late 2002, the terms and timing of the adoption of such a code are the subject of protracted debate between ASEAN and China.

Military-political cooperation

The leaders of the ASEAN countries throughout the history of the Association categorically rejected the possibility and desirability of its transformation into a military-political bloc. Assessing the military-political situation in Southeast Asia as generally stable, ASEAN members strive to maintain the balance of power of the major powers in the Asia-Pacific region. This means maintaining the US military presence. Thailand and the Philippines maintain their previous military-political agreements with Washington on joint defense and military assistance. The territory of these countries is used to maintain the American presence in the region, the transit of the US Air Force and Navy for operations in "hot spots", including the Persian zapiv. As part of the US global anti-terrorism campaign, a group of US military personnel is deployed in the Philippines to fight the local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. Malaysia and Singapore are members of the "five-sided defense agreement" together with the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Development of trade and economic cooperation within ASEAN

ASEAN has both political and socio-economic aspects of development, and the importance of the latter is constantly expanding (Fig. 1 and Table 1).

Economic cooperation in ASEAN is concentrated mainly in the field of trade. In 1977, the Agreement on Trade Preferences was signed, ASEAN PTA (ASEANpreferentialTradingArrangements, ASEANRTA), provided for:

trade preferences based on the conclusion of long-term contracts;
mutual provision of merchant loans at preferential rates;
liberalization of non-tariff barriers in mutual trade;
expanding the scale of tariff preferences, etc.

Fig 1. Key activities within ASEAN

Preferences were granted as a result of negotiations and on the basis of voluntary proposals and were valid in relation to all countries of the grouping. It is established that each state will recommend for liberalization at least 50 commodity items per quarter.

Table 1

	Document	Goal (direction)
	Declaration on the Establishment of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations - ASEAN) (Bangkok Declaration)	Promoting the development of socio-economic and cultural cooperation between member countries, strengthening peace and stability in Southeast Asia
	ASEAN Declaration on the Establishment of a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality in Southeast Asia (ZOPFAN)	Maintaining peace within the region and building a community free from the influence of external forces
	Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (Bapi Treaty)	Code of international relations in the region in accordance with the UN Charter
	Declaration of Consent	Contains the principles of cooperation within ASEAN in the political, economic and functional fields
	Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)	Trade liberalization, increasing intra-regional trade cooperation, including the provision of customs tariff preferences
	ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) (.Singapore)	Integration and liberalization in the region of Southeast Asia: reduction of customs duties and non-tariff barriers. It assumes the following measures: harmonization of the tariff nomenclature, customs valuation; establishment of a green passage system, i.e. systems of simplified customs procedures; harmonization of commodity standards; standardization of products in order to reduce production costs and align the standards of member countries with international standards; mutual recognition of the requirements for product testing and the issuance of relevant certificates
	Agreement on Common Effective Preferential Tariffs of the ASEAN countries (CEPT - The Common Effective Preferential Tariff, SERP)	The main tool for implementing the AFTA agreements is the preferential tariff with universal effect (CEPT). Establishes the need for a gradual reduction in customs duties applicable to industrial and agricultural goods to the level of 0-5% within 10 years from the date of entry
	Asean Security Forum (ARF) (multilateral consultative meeting)	Security cooperation: building trust, developing preventive diplomacy and developing approaches to resolve conflicts. The task is to ensure, through dialogue and consultations, a conflict-free development of the situation both in Southeast Asia and in the Asia-Pacific region. Members of ASEAN enter, Observer - Papua 4 \| New Guinea; China and Russia are consultative partners

Agreement on the creation of the South-East Zone. free from nuclear weapons)