CHAPTER I PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES

ARTICLE 1
PURPOSES

The Purposes of ASEAN are:

1. To maintain and enhance peace, security and stability and
further strengthen peace-oriented values in the region;
2. To enhance regional resilience by promoting greater political,
security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation;
3. To preserve Southeast Asia as a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone
and free of all other weapons of mass destruction;

4. To ensure that the peoples and Member States of ASEAN live
in peace with the world at large in a just, democratic and harmonious
environment;
5. To create a single market and production base which is stable,
prosperous, highly competitive and economically integrated with
effective facilitation for trade and investment in which there is free flow
of goods, services and investment; facilitated movement of business
persons, professionals, talents and labour; and freer flow of capital;

6. To alleviate poverty and narrow the development gap within
ASEAN through mutual assistance and cooperation;
7. To strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and the
rule of law, and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental
freedoms, with due regard to the rights and responsibilities of the
Member States of ASEAN;

8. To respond effectively, in accordance with the principle of
comprehensive security, to all forms of threats, transnational crimes
and transboundary challenges;
9. To promote sustainable development so as to ensure the
protection of the region’s environment, the sustainability of its natural
resources, the preservation of its cultural heritage and the high quality
of life of its peoples;
10. To develop human resources through closer cooperation in
education and life-long learning, and in science and technology, for the
empowerment of the peoples of ASEAN and for the strengthening of
the ASEAN Community;

11. To enhance the well-being and livelihood of the peoples of
ASEAN by providing them with equitable access to opportunities for
human development, social welfare and justice;
12. To strengthen cooperation in building a safe, secure and drugfree
environment for the peoples of ASEAN;

13. To promote a people-oriented ASEAN in which all sectors of
society are encouraged to participate in, and benefit from, the process
of ASEAN integration and community building;
14. To promote an ASEAN identity through the fostering of greater
awareness of the diverse culture and heritage of the region; and
15. To maintain the centrality and proactive role of ASEAN as the
primary driving force in its relations and cooperation with its external
partners in a regional architecture that is open, transparent and
inclusive.


ARTICLE 2
PRINCIPLES

1. In pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1, ASEAN and its
Member States reaffirm and adhere to the fundamental principles
contained in the declarations, agreements, conventions, concords,
treaties and other instruments of ASEAN.

2. ASEAN and its Member States shall act in accordance with the
following Principles:
(a) respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality,
territorial integrity and national identity of all ASEAN
Member States;
(b) shared commitment and collective responsibility in
enhancing regional peace, security and prosperity;
(c) renunciation of aggression and of the threat or use of
force or other actions in any manner inconsistent with
international law;
(d) reliance on peaceful settlement of disputes;
(e) non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN
Member States;
(f) respect for the right of every Member State to lead its
national existence free from external interference,
subversion and coercion;
(g) enhanced consultations on matters seriously affecting
the common interest of ASEAN;
(h) adherence to the rule of law, good governance, the
principles of democracy and constitutional government;

(i) respect for fundamental freedoms, the promotion and
protection of human rights, and the promotion of social
justice;
(j) upholding the United Nations Charter and international
law, including international humanitarian law,
subscribed to by ASEAN Member States;
(k) Abstention from participation in any policy or activity,
including the use of its territory, pursued by any ASEAN
Member State or non-ASEAN State or any non-State
actor, which threatens the sovereignty, territorial
integrity or political and economic stability of ASEAN
Member States;
(l) Respect for the different cultures, languages and
religions of the peoples of ASEAN, while emphasising
their common values in the spirit of unity in diversity;
(m) The centrality of ASEAN in external political, economic,
social and cultural relations while remaining actively
engaged, outward-looking, inclusive and nondiscriminatory;
and
(n) Adherence to multilateral trade rules and ASEAN’s
rules-based regimes for effective implementation of
economic commitments and progressive reduction
towards elimination of all barriers to regional economic
integration, in a market-driven economy.