BACKGROUND OF ASEAN (PART 1)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly referred to as ASEAN, is a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on August 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand as a display of solidarity against communist expansion in Vietnam and insurgency within their own borders. Since then the role of the organization has changed drastically, and today Vietnam itself is a member, its aims include the acceleration of economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, and the promotion of regional peace.