ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated as ASEAN, is a regional grouping of 10 states in Southeast Asia "that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members." Together, its member states represent a population of more than 600 million people and land area of over 4.5 million km² (1.7 million sq mi). The bloc generated a purchasing power parity (PPP) gross domestic product (GDP) of around US$10.2 trillion in 2022, constituting approximately 6.5% of global GDP (PPP). ASEAN member states include some of the fastest growing economies in the world, and the institution plays an integral role in East Asian regionalism.

The primary objectives of ASEAN, as stated by the association, are "to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region", and "to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter." In recent years, the bloc has broadened its objectives beyond economic and social spheres.

ASEAN engages with other international entities in the Asia-Pacific region and other parts of the world. It is a major partner of the UNTooltip United Nations, SCOTooltip Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, PATooltip Pacific Alliance, GCCTooltip Gulf Cooperation Council, Mercosur, CELACTooltip Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and ECOTooltip Economic Cooperation Organization. It also hosts diplomatic missions throughout the world, maintaining a global network of relationships that is widely regarded as the central forum for cooperation in the region. Its success has become the driving force of some of the largest trade blocs in history, including APECTooltip Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and RCEPTooltip Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.