Secretariat of ASEAN
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| Secretariat of ASEAN | |
|---|---|
| Name | Secretariat of ASEAN |
| Formation | 1976 |
| Headquarters | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| Leader title | Secretary-General of ASEAN |
| Parent organization | Association of Southeast Asian Nations |
Secretariat of ASEAN The Secretariat of ASEAN is the administrative organ supporting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, facilitating implementation of decisions taken at summits such as the ASEAN Summit, coordinating activities across bodies like the ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Free Trade Area, and servicing committees including the ASEAN Economic Community Council and the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council. It acts as a focal point for cooperation with external partners such as the United Nations, the European Union, the People's Republic of China, the United States, and multilateral institutions including the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.
History
Established in 1976 to support the institutionalisation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations after the Manila Declaration and subsequent ministerial meetings, the Secretariat evolved alongside key milestones such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the ASEAN Charter, the expansion of membership from the original founding members to include Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, and the creation of community pillars like the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Its history intersects with major regional events including the Vietnam War aftermath, the Cambodian–Vietnamese War resolution, and the post-Cold War architecture reshaped by dialogues such as the East Asia Summit and initiatives with Japan and Australia.
Structure and Organisation
The Secretariat reports to the ASEAN Summit through the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and coordinates with sectoral bodies such as the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), and specialized committees including the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting. Organisational divisions correspond to the three community pillars: the ASEAN Political-Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, and also include units for legal affairs, external relations, finance and administration, and research linked to entities like the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, and the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy.
Functions and Responsibilities
Key functions include providing policy support to the ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN Committee, servicing meetings such as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum, facilitating implementation of commitments under instruments like the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, managing ASEAN external relations with partners such as the People's Republic of China, India, Japan, South Korea, the United States, the European Union, and multilateral organisations including the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the World Health Organization. It also administers mechanisms for economic integration such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area and dispute-settlement frameworks connected to instruments referenced in the ASEAN Investment Area dialogues.
Leadership
Leadership is provided by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, supported by a team of Deputy Secretaries and heads of divisions who liaise with the rotating chairmanship held by member states like Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia. The Secretary-General engages with heads of state and government during events such as the ASEAN Summit and convenes with ministers at meetings like the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting. Interaction with external high-level counterparts includes dialogues with representatives from China, the European Union, the United States, Japan, India, and institutions such as the Asian Development Bank.
Location and Facilities
Headquartered in Jakarta within facilities designed to host delegations from member states including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, the Secretariat's complex contains meeting halls, conference rooms, and offices for liaison with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR). The premises are proximate to diplomatic missions from partners such as the United States Embassy in Jakarta, the Embassy of China in Jakarta, and regional think tanks like the Habibie Center and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (Jakarta).
Budget and Staffing
Funding derives from assessed contributions by member states under arrangements agreed by the ASEAN Summit and overseen by finance and administration units that coordinate budgetary matters with national treasuries in capitals such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Hanoi. Staffing includes international civil servants and secondees from member states, with recruitment practices influenced by exchanges with organisations like the United Nations and capacity-building partnerships with the Asian Development Bank and regional research centres including ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.
Relations with Member States and External Partners
The Secretariat maintains operational relations with national missions accredited to ASEAN from capitals including Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi, and Manila and works with sectoral ministries such as foreign ministries of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore to implement agreements like the ASEAN Charter. External relations encompass strategic dialogues and cooperation frameworks with major partners including China–ASEAN relations, India–ASEAN relations, United States–ASEAN relations, EU–ASEAN relations, and multilateral engagement with the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund to support projects spanning trade, infrastructure, disaster management, and public health initiatives linked to the World Health Organization.