ASEAN COMMUNITY

ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC)

To build on what has been constructed over the years in the field of political and security cooperation, the
ASEAN Leaders have agreed to establish the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC). The APSC shall
aim to ensure that countries in the region live at peace with one another and with the world in a just, democratic
and harmonious environment.

The members of the Community pledge to rely exclusively on peaceful processes in the settlement of intra-
regional differences and regard their security as fundamentally linked to one another and bound by geographic
location, common vision and objectives. It has the following components: political development; shaping and
sharing of norms; conflict prevention; conflict resolution; post-conflict peace building; and implementing
mechanisms.

The APSC Blueprint envisages ASEAN to be a rules-based Community of shared values and norms; a cohesive,
peaceful, stable and resilient region with shared responsibility for comprehensive security; as well as a dynamic
and outward-looking region in an increasingly integrated and interdependent world.

The APSC Blueprint is guided by the ASEAN Charter and the principles and purposes contained therein. It
provides a roadmap and timetable to establish the APSC by 2015. It also leaves room for flexibility to continue
programmes/activities beyond 2015 in order to retain its significance and have an enduring quality.

The APSC Blueprint was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 14th ASEAN Summit on 1 March 2009 in
Cha-am/Hua Hin, Thailand.

ASEAN Economic Community

The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 is a major milestone in the regional
economic integration agenda in ASEAN, offering opportunities in the form of a huge market of US$2.6 trillion
and over 622 million people. In 2014, AEC was collectively the third largest economy in Asia and the seventh
largest in the world.

The AEC Blueprint 2025, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 27th ASEAN Summit on 22 November 2015
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, provides broad directions through strategic measures for the AEC from 2016 to
2025. Along with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC)
Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint 2025, the AEC Blueprint 2025
forms part of ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together. It succeeded the AEC Blueprint (2008-2015), which was
adopted in 2007.

The AEC Blueprint 2025 is aimed towards achieving the vision of having an AEC by 2025 that is highly
integrated and cohesive; competitive, innovative and dynamic; with enhanced connectivity and sectoral
cooperation; and a more resilient, inclusive, and people-oriented, people-centred community, integrated with the
global economy

The AEC Blueprint 2025 consists of five interrelated and mutually reinforcing characteristics, namely: (i) A
Highly Integrated and Cohesive Economy; (ii) A Competitive, Innovative, and Dynamic ASEAN; (iii)
Enhanced Connectivity and Sectoral Cooperation; (iv) A Resilient, Inclusive, People-Oriented, and People-
Centred ASEAN; and (v) A Global ASEAN. These characteristics support the vision for the AEC as envisaged
in the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
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The AEC Blueprint 2025 sets out the strategic measures under each of the five characteristics of AEC 2025. To
operationalise the Blueprint’s implementation, these strategic measures will be further elaborated in and
implemented through the work plans of various sectoral bodies in ASEAN. The sectoral work plans will be
reviewed and updated periodically to ensure their relevance and effectiveness. Partnership arrangements with
the private sector, industry associations and the wider community at the regional and national levels will also be
actively sought and fostered to ensure an inclusive and participatory approach to the integration process.
Institutions will be strengthened and enhanced approaches to monitoring and public outreach will likewise be
developed to support the effective implementation of the Blueprint.

The AEC 2025 Consolidated Strategic Action Plan (CSAP) comprises of key action lines that will
operationalise the strategic measures in the AEC Blueprint 2025. It takes into account the relevant sectoral
workplans, and will be reviewed periodically to account for developments in each sector.

The inaugural issue of the ASEAN Economic Integration Brief (AEIB) was released on 30 June 2017. The
AEIB provides regular updates on ASEAN economic integration progress and outcomes, and is a demonstration
of ASEAN’s commitment to strengthen communication and outreach to raise stakeholder awareness of the
AEC.

The AEC Blueprint 2025 will lead towards an ASEAN that is more proactive, having had in place the structure
and frameworks to operate as an economic community, cultivating its collective identity and strength to engage
with the world, responding to new developments, and seizing new opportunities. The new Blueprint will not
only ensure that the 10 ASEAN Member States are economically integrated, but are also sustainably and
gainfully integrated in the global economy, thus contributing to the goal of shared prosperity.

The ASEAN Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) Core Principles was adopted at the 50th AEM Meeting in 29
August 2018 and subsequently endorsed by the AEC Council. ASEAN GRP Core Principles, which is a
practical, non-binding set of principles to serve as a guide to mainstream GRP into ASEAN work, and assist
ASEAN Member States in improving their regulatory practice and fostering ASEAN-wide regulatory
cooperation.

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Pillar

i. ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Pillar in brief, including ASCC Sectoral Bodies

The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) is the third pillar of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations.

Overseen by a ministerial body known as the ASCC Council that meets twice a year, it is the widest ranging of
the three Pillars, undertaking efforts to lift the quality of life of ASEAN peoples through cooperative
programmes and activities that are people-oriented, people-centred, environmentally friendly, and geared
towards the promotion of sustainable development to face new and emerging challenges in ASEAN. The ASCC
is committed to collectively deliver and fully realise human development, resiliency and sustainable
development through cooperation on a wide range of areas, including culture and information, health,
education, environment and climate change, labour, rural development and poverty eradication, social welfare,
sports, women, children, youth and vulnerable groups.

Like other Pillars, ASCC and its fifteen (15) Sectoral Bodies, have under their purview the relevant senior
officials and subsidiary bodies.
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ASEAN CHAIRMANSHIP
ASEAN Chairmanship 2021 – Brunei Darussalam
The theme is “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”
The Logo:

ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 – Viet Nam

The theme is “Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN”
 “Cohesive” represents the idea of upholding the unity, solidarity and internal strength of ASEAN,
increasing economic connectivity, deepening the ASEAN values and identities, and enhancing the
efficiency of the bloc’s apparatus and promoting the ASEAN’s partnerships in the global community.
 “Responsive” reflects the needs of ASEAN to increase its proactiveness, creativeness and
responsiveness to opportunities
and challenges from global and
regional situation.

ASEAN Chairmanship 2019 –

Thailand
The theme is “Advancing Partnership for
Sustainability.”
The logo is inspired from Phuang Malai, or flower
garland, which is commonly used in Thailand to
welcome and honour our guests. “Flowers” that are put
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together and arranged into a circle shape, represent “the people” of the ASEAN Community and their collective
cooperation to drive forward together the ASEAN Community. Ten tassels hanging from the Malai symbolise
the ten ASEAN Member States. They collectively form the shape of an upward arrow, representing their
striving together in “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”, which is the theme of Thailand’s ASEAN
Chairmanship, towards a people-centered ASEAN Community, that leaves no one behind and looks to the
future. The logo’s theme colour is inspired by the colour of purple mangosteen, Thailand’s “Queen of Fruits”.
ASEAN Chairmanship 2018 – Singapore
The theme is “Resilient and Innovative” It encapsulates our vision for
ASEAN to be united in the face of growing uncertainties in the global
strategic landscape. ASEAN must also be adaptable and forward looking,
so that we can harness opportunities and manage challenges from
disruptive digital technologies, equip our citizens with skills to build a
future-ready ASEAN and boost our capabilities to make our cities
smarter.

ASEAN Chairmanship 2014 – Myanmar

The year 2014 will be exciting year for Myanmar as Myanmar takes the rotating chair of ASEAN for the
first time after joining ASEAN in 17 years. Political, economic and administrative reforms in Myanmar since
2011 have made it possible for Myanmar to play a more active role in regional and international affairs in
accordance with its foreign policy objectives stipulated in the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of
Myanmar. Myanmar will faithfully implement the responsibilities of ASEAN Chair in accordance with the
Article 31 and 32 of the ASEAN Charter.
Myanmar has set the theme for 2014 ASEAN Chair as “Moving Forward in Unity to a Peaceful and
Prosperous Community”. The solidarity of ASEAN is the first and foremost ingredient for ASEAN to be
credible in the world and to be fully integrated into a community. The ultimate goal of ASEAN is to reach to a
peaceful and prosperous community where ASEAN will be outward looking, playing a leading role in emerging
regional architecture and contributing to the healthy development of global community, people-centred, caring
and socially responsible, economically dynamic, sustainable and resilient, maintaining peace, stability and
harmony. Myanmar’s chairmanship of ASEAN aims to add value to these ASEAN objectives and dynamics.

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 The definition of ASEAN Logo for
2014
Kha Yay or Star Flower
– Since kha yay is known as ‘star
flower,’ (10) kha yay flowers stand
for 10 ASEAN Member States as ‘
Stars’ in its own right, and the links
among them means that all ASEAN
Member States are joining hands in
hands together in unity as a
community and as emerging stars in
the world.
– In the form, Star flower resembles
the pinion of a machine. The linkage
of the (10) pinions will be driving
force for the peace and prosperity of
the region for which the theme of the
Chair stands for.
– In fact, Star flower is an ordinary
flower in Myanmar valued by the
millions of people. Therefore, it
represents the majority people of the
region. Therefore, Kha yay stands for
millions of ASEAN people. Centered
on the ASEAN people, ASEAN will advance towards the peace, prosperity and development of the region.
– The mixture of the white and yellow color of the star flower indicates peace and prosperity for the people of
the region.
– The nobility of the star flower is its scent. The scent of the star flower recalling far and near even when it
wilts. Therefore, like the resilience of the scent of star flower, the resilience of the ASEAN people remains in
robust strength not only in times of enjoying achievements but also in times of encountering challenges.
Background Colour
The green background of the logo means that ASEAN will implement the development of the region
emphasizing peace, green growth and environmental preservation in the region.
ASEAN QUIZ
The biennial ASEAN Quiz aims to inspire students to gain a deeper understanding of ASEAN’s political,
economic, cultural and social developments.
The ASEAN Quiz is a biennial project endorsed by the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information
(ASEAN-COCI) and supported by the ASEAN Cultural Fund. Held since 2002, it is a knowledge competition
for students aged 15 to 18 years old, and aims to provide a platform for youths in ASEAN to gain deeper
understanding of the region’s political, economic, cultural and social developments, and ASEAN’s initiatives.

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The ASEAN quiz comprises two levels: the National-level quiz held in each ASEAN Member State, and the
Regional-level quiz held at the coordinating member state of the year.