ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok. The most important document for ASEAN was signed and officially authenticated by the five foreign ministers from Indonesia (Adam Malik), Malaysia (Narciso R. Ramos), Philippines (Tun Abdul Razak), Singapore (S. Rajaratnam) and Thailand (Thanat Khoman). 

They were subsequently recognized as the founding fathers of the most successful intergovernmental organization in the developing world today. The document signed by these ministers became known as the ASEAN Agreement. ASEAN currently consists of ten member states (as of early 2001): Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. With a population  of  over 670  million  people  (as  of  2021),  ASEAN  is  larger  than  the  European  Union. The aim is to promote common political, economic, technical, cultural and social interests. ASEAN's highest body is the summit conference of heads of state and government, which  meets  at  irregular intervals. 

The General Secretariat is based in Jakarta.

Read more about the ASEAN Free Trade Zone on WIKIPEDIA