The ASEAN Charter is the code or legal framework for ASEAN member states. It took effect on December 15, 2008 and was comprised of thirteen chapters and 55 articles, including the following important points
Purposes of the ASEAN Community
1.To maintain and enhance peace, security, and stability and further strengthen peace-oriented values in the region.
2. To enhance regional resilience by promoting greater political, security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation.
3. To preserve Southeast Asia as a nuclear weapon-free zone and free of all other wearpons of mass destruction.
4. To ensure that the people and member states of ASEAN live in peace with the world, in a just, democratic and harmonious environment.
5. To create a single market and production base that is stable, prosperous, highly competitive, and economically integrated, with effective facilitation for trade and investment, in which there is a free flow of goods, services, and investment; facilitates movement of business people, professionals, talent and labor; and which allows freer flow of capital.
6. To alleviate poverty and narrow the development gap within ASEAN through mutual assistance and cooperation.
7. To strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and the rule of law, and to promote and protect human right and fundamental freedoms, with due regard to the rights and responsibilities of the member states of ASEAN.