At this time, I would like to discuss the ASEAN economic integration and highlight some thoughts on
policy measures that are required to integrate the
CLMV’s economy amidst serious concerns that
ASEAN economic integration can be hampered by the
development gap that exist between the older
ASEAN-six and the four-newer members and offer
some recommendation measures to widen the scope of
the work plan in order to improve.
On 8th August 1967, five Southeast Asian
countries comprising of Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand formed the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to
try to response to the then fragile regional political
situation and its function was aimed at for economic,
social, and cultural cooperation.
The “Bangkok Declaration”, the document upon
which association was founded, displayed ASEAN
solidarity against communist expansionism and
insurgencies, which described as the common
problems among countries of Southeast Asia, as well
as to also emphasize the grouping’s determination to
ensure their stability and security from external
interference in any form or manifestation.
In 1976, the ASEAN Secretariat was established
to improve coordination among ASEAN members. In
the same year, the grouping’s first formal agreement,
the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) was
signed to enshrine one of ASEAN’s fundamental
principles: the non-interference.
Brunei joined ASEAN immediately upon
achieving its independence from the United Kingdom
in 1984. Vietnam was admitted in 1995, even though
it was still under a communist system. Laos and
Myanmar followed in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.