ASEAN facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Association of Southeast Asian Nations Burmese: အရှေ့တောင်အာရှနိုင်ငံများအသင်း aashaetaungaarsh ninenganmyarr aahpwal Filipino: Samahán ng mga Bansâ sa Timog Silangang Asya Indonesian: Perhimpunan Bangsa-bangsa Asia Tenggara Khmer: សមាគមប្រជាជាតិអាស៊ីអាគ្នេយ៍ sameakm brachacheate asai akne Lao: ສະມາຄົມປະຊາຊາດແຫ່ງອາຊີຕະເວັນອອກສຽງໃຕ້ samakhom pasasad aehng asi tauaen ksiang tai Malay: Persatuan Negara-negara Asia Tenggara Mandarin: 亚细安组织 东南亚国家联盟 東南亞國家協會 Yàxì'ān zǔzhī Dōngnányà guójiā liánméng Dōngnányà guójiā xiéhuì Tamil: தென்கிழக்காசிய நாடுகளின் கூட்டமைப்பு Teṉkiḻakkāciya nāṭukaḷiṉ kūṭṭamaippu Thai: สมาคมประชาชาติแห่งเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ Samakhom prachachat haeng echia tawan ok chiang tai Vietnamese: Hiệp hội các quốc gia Đông Nam Á
Flag Emblem
Motto: "One Vision, One Identity, One Community"
Anthem: "The ASEAN Way"
Member states shown in dark green.
Headquarters	Jakarta, Indonesia 6°14′20″S 106°47′57″E / 6.23889°S 106.79917°E / -6.23889; 106.79917
Largest city	Jakarta, Indonesia
Working language	English
Official languages of contracting states	Burmese Chinese English Filipino Indonesian Khmer Lao Malay Tamil Thai Vietnamese
Membership	10 member states  Brunei  Cambodia  Indonesia  Laos  Malaysia  Myanmar  Philippines  Singapore  Thailand  Vietnam 2 observer states  East Timor  Papua New Guinea
Leaders
• Secretary-General	Kao Kim Hourn
• Chairmanship of ASEAN	Laos
Establishment
• Bangkok Declaration	8 August 1967 (57 years ago) (8 August 1967)
• Charter	16 December 2008 (16 years ago) (16 December 2008)
Area
• Total	4,522,518 km2 (1,746,154 sq mi)
Population
• 2023 estimate	683,290,000
• Density	144/km2 (373.0/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	$12.007 trillion
• Per capita	$17,528
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	$4.248 trillion
• Per capita	$6,201
HDI (2022)	0.736 high
Time zone	UTC+06:30 to +09:00

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, often called ASEAN, is a group of 10 countries in Southeast Asia. These countries work together on political and economic matters. Together, they have over 600 million people living in an area of about 4.5 million square kilometers.

ASEAN's main goals are to help the region grow economically, improve social progress, and develop culture. It also aims to keep peace and stability by respecting justice and the rule of law among its member countries. ASEAN wants to be like the European Union by having a shared security system.

ASEAN works with many other international groups, like the United Nations. It is seen as a very important group for cooperation in its region. It has also helped create large trade groups like APEC.

ASEAN headquarters in Jakarta

History of ASEAN

How ASEAN Started

The group that came before ASEAN was called the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA). It was formed on July 31, 1961, with Thailand, the Philippines, and the Federation of Malaya as members.

ASEAN itself was created on August 8, 1967. The foreign ministers from five countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand – signed a document called the ASEAN Declaration. This declaration stated that ASEAN would work to speed up economic, social, and cultural growth in the region. It also aimed to promote peace, work together on shared interests, and cooperate with other international groups.

One of the early reasons for creating ASEAN was to deal with the spread of communism in Asia after World War II. The first big meeting of ASEAN leaders happened in Bali, Indonesia, in 1976. They agreed on some industrial projects and signed a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. After the Cold War ended, ASEAN countries became more independent. In the 1990s, ASEAN became a strong voice on trade and security issues in the region.

On December 15, 1995, the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty was signed. This treaty aimed to make Southeast Asia a place free of nuclear weapons. It officially started on March 28, 1997, and fully banned nuclear weapons in the region by June 21, 2001.

ASEAN Grows Bigger

On January 7, 1984, Brunei became the sixth member of ASEAN. Later, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam joined as the seventh member after the Cold War ended. Laos and Myanmar joined two years later on July 23, 1997. Cambodia was supposed to join at the same time, but some problems delayed its entry. It finally joined on April 30, 1999.

In 2006, ASEAN was given a special "observer status" at the United Nations General Assembly. This means they can attend meetings and participate, but not vote.

Shared History and Culture

Southeast Asian nations are a mix of cultures from East Asia and South Asia. They are located at important points for trade in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Because of this, they were influenced by many different cultures, including Islamic and Persian, before European countries arrived.

For a long time, Southeast Asia was a central point for trade routes. This helped their economies and brought in new ideas. Many European countries colonized parts of Southeast Asia, including French Indochina (now Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia), British Burma, Malaya, and Borneo (now Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei). Only Thailand (then called Siam) was not colonized. European colonization brought new religions, technologies, and the Latin alphabet.

During World War II, the Japanese Empire tried to unite Asia against Western colonial rule. After the war, many decolonization movements happened in Southeast Asia, leading to the independent ASEAN countries we see today.

The ASEAN Charter

On December 15, 2008, ASEAN members launched a new charter. This charter, signed in November 2007, aimed to make ASEAN more like the European Union. It officially made ASEAN a legal group, working towards a single trade area for over 500 million people.

The financial crisis of 2007–2008 was a challenge to ASEAN's goals. A human rights group was proposed and later created in 2009, called the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). In November 2012, they adopted the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.

The role of ASEAN chair rotates among member countries. Currently, Laos holds this position.

ASEAN Chairs

Year	Country
2008	Thailand
2009
2010	Vietnam
2011	Indonesia
2012	Cambodia
2013	Brunei
2014	Myanmar
2015	Malaysia
2016	Laos
2017	Philippines
2018	Singapore
2019	Thailand
2020	Vietnam
2021	Brunei
2022	Cambodia
2023	Indonesia
2024	Laos

Public Health Efforts

ASEAN works with other countries to respond to health crises.

SARS Outbreak

During the SARS outbreak, ASEAN and its partners worked together. They agreed to share information and improve cooperation between health authorities. China also contributed money to an ASEAN SARS fund.

H1N1 Pandemic

ASEAN held a special meeting in May 2009 to discuss the H1N1 pandemic. They agreed to set up hotlines between health authorities and form joint response teams.

Challenges in Myanmar

Since 2017, events in Myanmar have created challenges for ASEAN.

Rohingya Situation

In August 2017, many Rohingya people were killed or forced to leave Myanmar. This led to a global outcry for ASEAN to take action.

2021 Myanmar Coup

On February 1, 2021, Myanmar's military took over the government. This led to widespread protests and global pressure on ASEAN to respond.

ASEAN Member States

Map showing the member states of ASEAN.

List of Member States

State	Accession
Brunei	7 January 1984
Cambodia	30 April 1999
Indonesia	8 August 1967
Laos	23 July 1997
Malaysia	8 August 1967
Myanmar	23 July 1997
Philippines	8 August 1967
Singapore	8 August 1967
Thailand	8 August 1967
Vietnam	28 July 1995

Observer States

Two countries are currently looking to join ASEAN: East Timor and Papua New Guinea. They both have "observer status," meaning they can attend some meetings.

People and Cities

As of July 1, 2019, ASEAN had about 655 million people. This is about 8.5% of the world's population. The population is growing by about 1.1% each year.

Major Cities

Many people in ASEAN live in cities. Here are the 20 largest metropolitan areas in ASEAN:

Metropolitan area	Core city	Population	Area (km2)	Country	Census year
Greater Jakarta	Jakarta	31,673,824	7,076.3	Indonesia	2020
Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area	Ho Chi Minh City	21,281,639	30,595.0	Vietnam	2019
Hanoi Capital Region	Hanoi	19,980,000	24,314.7	Vietnam	2019
Metro Manila	Manila	13,484,462	619.6	Philippines	2020
Bangkok Metropolitan Region	Bangkok	10,696,258	7,700.0	Thailand	2020
Greater Surabaya	Surabaya	9,924,509	6,310.0	Indonesia	2020
Greater Bandung	Bandung	8,790,308	3,500.3	Indonesia	2020
Klang Valley	Kuala Lumpur	8,455,029	8,347.0	Malaysia	2020
Yangon Region	Yangon	7,360,703	10,276.7	Myanmar	2014
Greater Semarang	Semarang	6,009,982	4,795.9	Indonesia	2020
Singapore	Singapore	5,685,807	734.3	Singapore	2020
Da Nang Metropolitan Area	Da Nang	5,622,814	26,640.3	Vietnam	2019
Greater Medan	Medan	4,756,863	3,189.2	Indonesia	2020
Metro Davao	Davao	3,339,284	6,492.8	Philippines	2020
Metro Cebu	Cebu	3,165,799	1,062.8	Philippines	2020
George Town Conurbation	George Town	2,844,214	3,758.8	Malaysia	2020
Greater Makassar	Makassar	2,725,951	2,666.6	Indonesia	2020
Greater Palembang	Palembang	2,634,501	9,886.6	Indonesia	2020
Phnom Penh Metro Area	Phnom Penh	2,506,123	679.0	Cambodia	2019
Greater Yogyakarta	Yogyakarta	2,485,163	1,118.2	Indonesia	2020

The ASEAN Way

The "ASEAN Way" is a special way of solving problems that respects the cultures of Southeast Asia. It means working together informally, using compromise, and making decisions by talking things through until everyone agrees. This quiet diplomacy helps leaders communicate without making things public, which avoids further conflict.

Some people think the ASEAN Way is good for solving global conflicts. However, others argue that it only works for Asian countries due to cultural differences. Critics also say that because everyone has to agree, it can be hard for ASEAN to move forward on issues. Different member countries might focus on different things, which makes it difficult to find common solutions.

How ASEAN is Organized

In 1997, ASEAN leaders adopted the ASEAN Vision 2020. This vision aimed for a single ASEAN community by 2020, focusing on peace, stability, economic integration, human development, and environmental care.

This vision was made more detailed in 2003 with the Bali Concord II. Three main parts of the ASEAN community were created:

• Political-Security Community (APSC)
• Economic Community (AEC)
• Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)

The goal was to achieve these by 2015, earlier than the original 2020 plan.

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)

ASEAN leaders sign the declaration of the ASEAN Economic Community during the 27th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, 2015

The AEC aims to create a single market for all member countries. This means making it easier for skilled workers, goods, services, and investments to move freely between countries. This helps ASEAN become more competitive globally.

ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC)

The APSC aims to create a strong political and security environment within ASEAN. It focuses on shared responsibility for security and being an active region in the world. The ASEAN Defense Industry Collaboration (ADIC) was proposed to help develop the defense industry in the region and reduce reliance on outside countries for defense products. ASEANAPOL also works to improve cooperation among police forces to fight crime.

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)

The ASCC aims for an ASEAN community that cares about its people and is socially responsible. It wants to build strong unity among countries and people by creating a shared identity. Key areas include human development, social welfare, environmental protection, and reducing differences in development.

Energy Cooperation

Part of the ASEAN Economic Community's work is to connect the energy systems of member countries. The ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) guides this.

Banking Integration

ASEAN is also working to integrate its banking systems by 2020. This means banks can expand their services across the region. This might be challenging for smaller banks, but it aims to make the region's financial system stronger.

Financial Integration Roadmap

This roadmap aims to strengthen financial support within the region. It looks at developing capital markets, making financial services more open, and cooperating on currencies. One idea is to explore using an ASEAN currency payment system for trade within the region. This could reduce the need for US dollars and help stabilize local currencies.

Food Security

ASEAN countries know how important it is to have enough food for everyone. As ASEAN becomes more integrated, food security is a key part of its goals. They aim to achieve food security by making it easier to trade rice and corn within the region.

ASEAN Economy

GDP (USD Million) by country

Country	Population in million (2024)	GDP Nominal millions of USD (2024)	GDP Nominal per capita USD (2024)	GDP (PPP) millions of Int$ (2024)	GDP (PPP) per capita Int$ (2024)
Indonesia	279.965	1,475,960	5,271	4,720,542	16,861
Thailand	70.266	548,890	7,812	1,644,322	23,401
Singapore	5.938	525,228	88,446	794,179	133,738
Philippines	114.161	471,516	4,130	1,391,800	12,192
Vietnam	100.770	468,814	4,623	1,558,898	15,470
Malaysia	33.460	445,519	13,315	1,305,942	39,030
Myanmar	54.506	68,006	1,248	283,572	5,203
Cambodia	17.182	45,150	2,628	142,392	8,287
Brunei	0.442	15,510	35,111	34,249	75,534
Laos	7.686	15,190	1,976	78,713	10,242
ASEAN	684.376	4,079,723	5,961	11,954,627	17,468

ASEAN aims for economic integration to create a single market. The average economic growth of its members has been very strong. The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), started in 1992, helps goods move freely between member countries by lowering tariffs (taxes on imports).

ASEAN's economy is one of the fastest growing in the world. Experts believe it will become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030.

Internal Market

ASEAN planned to create a single market by the end of 2015, allowing free movement of goods, services, skilled labor, and capital. This was called the ASEAN Economic Community. While much progress has been made, some parts of this plan are still being worked on, with a new goal of 2025.

Trade between ASEAN countries used to be low, but it is growing. Foreign direct investment (money invested by foreign companies) into ASEAN has also increased a lot. ASEAN has agreements to make it easier to trade services and to recognize professional qualifications for doctors, engineers, and other jobs. This means professionals can work more easily in any ASEAN country.

The ASEAN Single Aviation Market (ASEAN-SAM) aims to create a unified aviation market in Southeast Asia. This allows airlines to fly more freely between member countries, boosting tourism, trade, and investment.

Common Currency Idea

The idea of an Asian Currency Unit (ACU) is being explored, similar to how the Euro started in Europe. The goal of a common currency would be to make the region's economy more stable and reduce costs for cross-border business. However, this requires strong trade within ASEAN and similar economic conditions across member states, which are still developing.

Free Trade Agreements

In 1992, the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme was adopted to lower tariffs and make the region more competitive for production. This led to the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

ASEAN has also signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with other major economies like China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand. The agreement with China created the ASEAN–China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) in 2010. ASEAN is also negotiating an FTA with the European Union.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a large free-trade agreement involving ASEAN and six other countries (Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea). It covers a huge part of the world's population and economy.

Electricity Trade

Trading electricity between ASEAN countries has been limited, even though there have been efforts since 1997 to create an ASEAN Power Grid.

Tourism in ASEAN

With easier travel between ASEAN countries, more people are visiting other countries within the region. Tourism is a major growth area for ASEAN. In 2015, 109 million tourists visited ASEAN countries. Tourism supports millions of jobs and contributes a lot to the region's economy.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is an annual event that promotes ASEAN countries as a single tourist destination.

Foreign Relations

Royal Thai Embassy, Helsinki, flying its own national flag as well as ASEAN's flag

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte poses for a photo with the ASEAN foreign ministers during the 50th anniversary of the group's foundation on 8 August 2017.

ASEAN has many alliances and diplomatic relationships around the world. It tries to remain neutral in global politics. ASEAN holds summits where leaders meet to discuss regional issues and work with countries outside the group. These summits happen twice a year.

ASEAN works closely with China, Japan, and South Korea. It also plays a key role in the East Asia Summit (EAS), a forum for leaders from 18 countries in the East Asian region. The EAS discusses trade, energy, and security.

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) helps promote dialogue and build trust in the region. It includes all ASEAN members plus many other countries. ASEAN also holds meetings with Europe through the Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Territorial Disputes

South China Sea

There are ongoing disputes over parts of the South China Sea. Several ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, have overlapping claims with China and Taiwan. These disputes involve land, islands, and resources. ASEAN has tried to find a unified way to respond to these challenges.

Other Disputes

ASEAN member states have also had their own border disputes, such as between Cambodia and Thailand, and Cambodia and Vietnam. ASEAN has played a role in helping to resolve these conflicts peacefully.

Relations with Other Groups

     ASEAN      ASEAN Plus Three      ASEAN Plus Six

ASEAN Plus Three

In 1997, the ASEAN Plus Three group was formed, including ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea. This group helps coordinate cooperation in many areas, from finance and trade to disaster management and poverty reduction. It was especially important after the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997.

ASEAN Plus Six

The East Asia Summit (EAS) expanded on ASEAN Plus Three by including India, Australia, and New Zealand. This group is now called ASEAN Plus Six. It is a key part of the economic and political structure of the Asia Pacific region. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a free-trade agreement involving most of these countries.

Environment

Haze over Borneo, 2006

ASEAN has worked on environmental agreements, like the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution signed in 2002. This agreement aimed to control haze pollution, a big problem in Southeast Asia. However, haze outbreaks continued in later years.

Other environmental issues in the region include deforestation, plastic waste, and many threatened animal and plant species. ASEAN countries also release a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere, making them a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite these challenges, ASEAN has many opportunities for renewable energy, like solar and wind power. Vietnam, for example, has rapidly increased its use of solar and wind energy.

Energy Transition

Key features of energy transition in Southeast Asia

ASEAN is starting to switch to cleaner energy sources. This is a big task because the region's energy demand is expected to triple by 2050. It will require a lot of investment in renewable energy. Vietnam is a good example, as solar and wind energy now make up a significant part of its electricity.

The region needs international help to reach its goals of net-zero emissions. Phasing out coal power is a major challenge, though countries like Indonesia and Vietnam have promised to do so by the 2040s.

Education

ASEAN education ministers have set four main goals for education:

• Promoting awareness of ASEAN among young people.
• Strengthening ASEAN identity through education.
• Building human resources in education.
• Strengthening the ASEAN University Network.

The ASEAN University Network (AUN) is a group of universities that work together to promote cooperation among scholars and develop human resources. The Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (SEED-Net) helps develop engineering skills.

Singapore offers scholarships to students from other ASEAN countries for secondary school, junior college, and university. Australia also offers "Australia for ASEAN" scholarships for future leaders.

Culture

ASEAN hosts cultural activities to bring the region closer together. These include sports events, educational programs, and awards. The region is known for its diverse ethnic groups, religions, and languages.

Media and Communication

Member countries work together on information and media to help build an ASEAN identity. The ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (COCI) promotes cooperation in these areas. The ASEAN Communication Master Plan (ACPM) helps explain what ASEAN is and its goals to people in the region and worldwide.

The ASEAN Media Cooperation (AMC) helps set standards for digital television. Projects like the ASEAN NewsMaker Project teach students how to create video clips about their countries.

Public Media in ASEAN

•  Brunei: Radio Television Brunei
•  Cambodia: National Television of Cambodia
•  Indonesia: SEA Today, Televisi Republik Indonesia and Radio Republik Indonesia
•  Laos: Lao National Radio and Lao National Television
•  Malaysia: Radio Televisyen Malaysia
•  Myanmar: Myanmar Radio and Television
•  Philippines: People's Television Network, Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation and Presidential Broadcast Service
•  Singapore: Mediacorp
•  Thailand: National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, Radio Thailand and Thai Public Broadcasting Service
•  Vietnam: Vietnam Television and Voice of Vietnam

Music of ASEAN

Music is important in ASEAN. Several songs have been written for the group:

• "The ASEAN Way" is the official anthem.
• "ASEAN Song of Unity" or "ASEAN Hymn".
• "Let Us Move Ahead".
• "ASEAN Rise", for ASEAN's 40th anniversary.
• "ASEAN Spirit", for ASEAN's 50th anniversary.

Sports

The main sporting event for ASEAN is the Southeast Asian Games. This event happens every two years and brings together athletes from the ten member countries, plus Timor-Leste.

Sports Events

• ASEAN Games
• ASEAN University Games
• ASEAN School Games
• ASEAN Para Games

Championship Events

• Southeast Asian Football Championship - Since 1996
• Southeast Asian Basketball Championship - Since 1994
• Southeast Asian Cricket Championship
• Southeast Asian Handball Championship
• Southeast Asian Floorball Championships
• Southeast Asian Hockey Championship
• Southeast Asian Baseball Championship
• Southeast Asian Volleyball Championship - Since 2019
• Southeast Asian Sepaktakraw Championship
• Southeast Asian Footvolley Championship
• Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships
• Southeast Asian Swimming Championships
• Southeast Asian Gymnastics Championship
• Southeast Asian Cycling Championship
• Southeast Asian Shooting Championship
• Southeast Asian Archery Championship
• Southeast Asian Sailing Championship
• Southeast Asian Rowing Championship
• Southeast Asian Canoeing Championship
• Southeast Asian Boxing Championship
• Southeast Asian Fencing Championship
• Southeast Asian Kurash Championship
• Southeast Asian Wrestling Championship
• Southeast Asian Weightlifting Championship
• Southeast Asian Powerlifting Championship
• Southeast Asian Bodybuilding Championship
• Southeast Asian Judo Championship
• Southeast Asian Jujitsu Championship
• Southeast Asian Muaythai Championship
• Southeast Asian Sambo Championship
• Southeast Asian Vovinam Championship
• Southeast Asian Karate Championship
• Southeast Asian Taekwondo Championship
• Southeast Asian Wushu Championship
• Southeast Asian Pencak Silat Championship
• Southeast Asian Badminton Championship
• Southeast Asian Tennis Championship
• Southeast Asian Table Tennis Championships
• Southeast Asian Squash Championship
• Southeast Asian Chess Championship
• Southeast Asian Triathlon Championship
• Southeast Asian Golf Championship (ASEAN PGA Tour) - Since 2007
• Southeast Asian Esports Championship
• Southeast Asian Bowling Championship
• Southeast Asian Cue Sports Championship
• Southeast Asian Arnis Championship
• Southeast Asian Chinlone Championship
• Southeast Asian Contract Bridge Championship
• Southeast Asian Bowls Championship
• Southeast Asian Go Championship
• Southeast Asian Dragon Boat Championship
• Southeast Asian Obstacle Racing Championship
• Southeast Asian Polo Championship
• Southeast Asian Waterskiing Championship
• Southeast Asian Woodball Championship
• Southeast Asian Finswimming Championship

Security

ASEAN is an important place for discussing security issues. Its main goal is to create an environment of understanding and cooperation among members to deal with threats and challenges. ASEAN uses a cooperative security approach, which means building trust and being open to reduce tension and conflict.

Piracy Challenges

Piracy in areas like the Strait of Malacca is a major security threat. It challenges ASEAN's ability to work together to stop it. While ASEAN has plans, like the Maritime Security Plan of Action, it can be hard to get all members to agree on specific actions due to different interests or unresolved border issues.

Despite these difficulties, ASEAN members are pushing for more cooperation to protect their seas, which are vital for trade and the economy.

Future Security Framework

ASEAN faces other important issues, such as human rights concerns and political challenges in some countries. The principle of "non-interference," where countries agree not to get involved in each other's internal affairs, can make it hard to address these issues.

A strong security plan for ASEAN needs to focus on cooperation and peaceful ways to solve problems. In today's connected world, security means more than just military strength. It also means preventing any one country from becoming too powerful and strengthening trust among partners. This can also help with economic cooperation.

See also

In Spanish: Asociación de Naciones de Asia Sudoriental para niños