CHARTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS

PREAMBLE

          WE, THE PEOPLES of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as represented by the Heads of State or Government of Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam:

          NOTING with satisfaction the significant achievementsand expansion of ASEAN since its establishment inBangkok through the promulgation of The ASEANDeclaration.

          RECALLING the decisions to establish an ASEANCharter in the Vientiane Action Programme, the KualaLumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEANCharter and the Cebu Declaration on the Blueprint of theCHARTER ASEAN.

          MINDFUL of the existence of mutual interests andTHE interdependence among the peoples and Member Statesof ASEAN which are bound by geography, commonobjectives and shared destiny.

          INSPIRED by and united under One Vision, One Identityand One Caring and Sharing Community.

          UNITED by a common desire and collective will to live ina region of lasting peace, security and stability, sustainedeconomic growth, shared prosperity and social progress, and to promote our vital interests, ideals and aspirations.

          RESPECTING the fundamental importance of amity andcooperation, and the principles of sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, non-interference, consensus and unityin diversity.

          ADHERING to the principles of democracy, the rule oflaw and good governance, respect for and protection ofhuman rights and fundamental freedoms.

          RESOLVED to ensure sustainable development for thebenefit of present and future generations and to placethe well-being, livelihood and welfare of the peoples atthe centre of the ASEAN community building process.

          CONVINCED of the need to strengthen existing bonds ofregional solidarity to realise an ASEAN Community thatis politically cohesive, economically integrated andsocially responsible in order to effectively respond tocurrent and future challenges and opportunities.

CHARTER

          COMMITTED to intensifying community building throughASEAN enhanced regional cooperation and integration, in particular by establishing an ASEAN Communitycomprising the ASEAN Security Community, the ASEANEconomic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural

 Community, as provided for in the Bali Declaration ofASEAN Concord II.

          HEREBY DECIDE to establish, through this Charter, thelegal and institutional framework for ASEAN.

          AND TO THIS END, the Heads of State or Governmentof the Member States of ASEAN, assembled in Singaporeon the historic occasion of the 40th anniversary of thefounding of ASEAN, have agreed to this Charter. 

Ref : www.asean.org