ASEAN Day Celebrations Highlight Strategic Ties

Every year on August 8, the ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) commemorate ASEAN Day.

This date was established in 2005 by the ASEAN Standing Committee to honor the founding of ASEAN on August 8, 1967. Initially, ASEAN was formed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines through the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. Subsequently, Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999, expanding the organization’s membership.

ASEAN has evolved into one of the most successful regional organizations, creating a wide network of intergovernmental associations such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). These bodies facilitate collaboration with major global powers, including Russia, which has emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with ASEAN as a key foreign policy priority in Asia.

To celebrate ASEAN Day 2024, various activities and events are planned across member countries. In Thailand, for example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host a flag-raising ceremony, an ASEAN quiz, and workshops and seminars aimed at promoting knowledge about ASEAN and encouraging youth engagement in regional issues.

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Russia’s involvement in ASEAN affairs has been significant, marked by the establishment of its Permanent Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta in 2017. The relationship between Russia and ASEAN reached the level of a strategic partnership in 2018, facilitating closer coordination on global and regional issues. Recently, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended ASEAN ministerial events in Vientiane, participating in discussions within the Russia-ASEAN format, as well as the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Russia’s commitment to strengthening ties with ASEAN, highlighting the alignment of their positions on key global and regional matters. At the Russia-ASEAN Summit in 2021, Putin emphasized the importance of expanding mutually beneficial cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.

The ongoing engagement between ASEAN and Russia underscores the strategic importance of this partnership, contributing to regional stability and prosperity.