Page 291 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

decisions are usually reduced to the lowest common denominator. There has been a widespread
belief that ASEAN members should have a less rigid view on these two cardinal principles when
they wish to be seen as a cohesive and relevant community.

ASEAN Summit

The organisation holds meetings, known as the ASEAN Summit, where heads of government of each
member meet to discuss and resolve regional issues, as well as to conduct other meetings with other
countries outside of the bloc with the intention of promoting external relations.

The ASEAN Leaders’ Formal Summit was first held in Bali, Indonesia in 1976. Its third meeting
was held in Manila in 1987 and during this meeting, it was decided that the leaders would meet every
five years. Consequently, the fourth meeting was held in Singapore in 1992 where the leaders again
agreed to meet more frequently, deciding to hold the summit every three years. In 2001, it was
decided to meet annually to address urgent issues affecting the region. Member nations were assigned

to be the summit host in alphabetical order except in the case of Burma which dropped its 2006
hosting rights in 2004 due to pressure from the United States and the European Union.

By December 2008, the ASEAN Charter came into force and with it, the ASEAN Summit will be
held twice in a year.

The formal summit meets for three days. The usual itinerary is as follows:

Leaders of member states would hold an internal organisation meeting.

Leaders of member states would hold a conference together with foreign ministers of the
ASEAN Regional Forum.

A meeting, known as ASEAN Plus Three, is set for leaders of three Dialogue Partners
(People’s Republic of China, Japan, South Korea)

A separate meeting, known as ASEAN-CER, is set for another set of leaders of two

Dialogue Partners (Australia, New Zealand).

G4. A group of four countries (India, Japan, Germany and Brazil) that is trying for
apermanent seat in the UN Security Council.

G5. A group of five developing countries (India, China, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico)
which is invited in G8 summit.

G20. A group of 20 developing nations formed to present their point in WTO. It is lead by
India, China and Brazil.

SCO. Shinghai Cooperation Organisation. Its members are China, Russia, Tajikastan,

Kazakhastan, Krygastan and Uzbekistan. India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia have been