ASEAN's regional cooperation and multilateral relations: recent developments and Australia’s interests

ASEAN is the most prominent regional cooperation group in East Asia. Australia has had a multilateral relationship with ASEAN since 1974. In July 2008 Australia appointed an Ambassador specifically to ASEAN and in August together with New Zealand signed a free trade agreement with ASEAN. This paper discusses the background to ASEAN’s origins and evolution since 1967; the pursuit since 2003 of an ‘ASEAN Community’ in economic, security and socio-cultural terms; ASEAN’s key relationships with its external ‘dialogue partners’; ASEAN’s contributions to wider regional cooperation through the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Plus Three process and the East Asia Summit; and Australia’s relations with ASEAN since 1974.