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October 7, 2003 -
Article from The Straits Times, OCT 7, 2003
Asean countries inked an agreement on Tuesday aimed at forging closer ties, boosting security, trade and social ties.
Regional leaders aimed to achieve a single market by 2020 with the signing of The Bali Concord II pact which lays the foundation for closer security and economic bonds.
The agreement lays the foundation for closer security and economic bonds and establishes 'three pillars' -- the Asean Security Community, Asean Economic Community and Asean Socio-cultural Community -- to ensure durable peace, stability and shared prosperity in the region, according to the document.
The Security Community concept aims to boost political and security cooperation, while strengthening national and regional capacities to counter terrorism and other crimes. Members also pledged to settle differences with each other peacefully.
The concept is seen by current Asean leader Indonesia as a way to resolve security disputes or considerations in an Asean framework rather than bilaterally or through international forums such as the Court of International Justice in The Hague.
The grouping aims to use the Asean Economic Community concept to achieve a single production base and market by 2020. It calls for a free flow of goods, services and investments.
The socio-cultural Community 'envisages a South-east Asia bonded together in partnership as a community of caring societies.'
The signing of the pact comes at a critical period for a region facing competition and economic difficulties, while also waging a battle against terror. The pact was signed almost one year after terrorist bombs killed 202 people, mostly Western vacationers, on the Indonesian resort island.
Asean was formed in 1967 by a number of then-authoritarian states as a bulwark against communism. Only six current members -- Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- are democracies.
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