Dick Lugar: “since its inception in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been a trusted friend of the United States.…”

“since its inception in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been a trusted friend of the United States. The original five-member countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, were joined by Brunei Darussalam in 1984. Beginning in the late 1960s, U.S. officials today continue to interact with ASEAN regarding mutual interests in East and Southeast Asia. Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Cambodia joined ASEAN after 1994. The level of intersects between ASEAN and the United States is immense, including student exchanges, business and trade, and security cooperation. ASEAN is the third largest export destination of American products. It is important to note that ASEAN is continually changing, with the pursuit of economic integration. As noted by the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN officials hope to create "a stable, prosperous and highly competitive ASEAN economic region in which there is a free flow of goods, services and investment and a freer flow of capital, equitable, economic development and reduced poverty and socio-economic disparities in year 2020." Last year alone, there were over 500 meetings of ASEAN officials--it is a vibrant regional structure. Committed to promoting regional peace and harmony, there has been no armed confrontation among ASEAN member nations, since ASEAN's beginning. An important part of ASEAN's future security lies in the development of a regional energy security strategy.”