ASEAN Main Portal

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is an intergovernmental forum of all 11 states in Southeast Asia. ASEAN primarily focuses on Southeast Asian economic development, peaceful coexistence and adherence to international norms. ASEAN operates on the principle of consensus and respecting national sovereignty, meaning that ASEAN as a whole cannot force another member state to change its domestic laws. ASEAN has a population of more than 680 million people and a purchasing power parity-adjusted gross domestic product of around 6.3% global GDP. ASEAN member states represent a diverse set of economies: the least developed countries like Laos, to emerging economies like Vietnam, to developed economies like Singapore. Many Southeast Asian projects have originated from decentralised initiatives between member states, such as the ASEAN Power Grid, ASEAN Free Trade Area, ASEAN Integrated QR Code Payment System, or the mutual ASEAN visa-free policies. Every two years, it organises a sporting event to promote cultural exchange known as SEA Games. ASEAN has strong ties with East Asian and South Asian countries.