(VOVworld) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is consolidating bilateral relations with its partners through legal documents which acknowledge agreements between parties involved. The ASEAN+1 cooperative framework has achieved practical results and proved to be the most effective mechanism of external cooperation.

(Photo: VNA)

ASEAN+1 is a cooperative framework between ASEAN and one outside partner and the oldest form of ASEAN’s external cooperation. Since its foundation, ASEAN has established bilateral relations with 9 countries and one bloc: China, the Republic of Korea, Canada, Japan, India, Australia, the US, Russia, New Zealand, and the European Union.

Win-win economic cooperation

Besides its expanded foreign policy, ASEAN values the relationship with its partners on the basis of mutual understanding and benefits, and maintaining ASEAN’s central role in regional structure formulation compatible with regional characteristics and interests.

Partners’ commitments to supporting ASEAN have provided momentum for ASEAN to build and consolidate a dynamic and developing community. The ASEAN+1 dialogue mechanism after 2015 is prioritized because it is important for the Association’s position. ASEAN’s biggest achievement is the formulation of an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in late 2015 and economic cooperation with any of its partners is given much attention. Japan, the world’s third largest economy, has helped the ASEAN community and is committed to narrowing development gaps, realizing “quality growth” in the Mekong sub-region, and implementing the Tokyo 2015 Strategy. Japan and ASEAN are now reviewing their 10 years of cooperation under the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership and setting a direction for the next 10 years.

The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement which was signed in 2012 is now taking full effect. Recently, Australia extended the ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Program to 2018 and the second phase of the Development Cooperation Program to 2019 with a committed aid package of 34 million USD.

At the just-concluded 49^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting Laos, Australia pledged more than 70 million USD within 5 years for the new Colombo Plan aimed at increasing education cooperation and people-to-people links with ASEAN. ASEAN-Russia economic ties continue through implementation of the Investment-Trade Cooperation Roadmap and action plans for science, technology, agriculture, energy, and food security. Russia and ASEAN will jointly organize a celebration of the 20^th anniversary of their partnership this year, and will carry out a joint plan of action until 2020.

Helping ASEAN cope with global security threats

The US, China, the Republic of Korea, and the EU have helped ASEAN a great deal in addressing terrorism, violence, maritime insecurity, cyber crimes, and trafficking of wild animals and humans.

The ASEAN+1 cooperative mechanism has enabled ASEAN and its partners to share their views, build trust, boost trade ties, and increase global security. This effective model is in line with the development of ASEAN and the trend of global integration.