ASEAN vision

The informal summit marking the 30th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which winds up in Kuala Lumpur today is a historic milestone for the regional group. It is a time not only to look back at its achievements -- which are plenty -- but an opportunity to look to the future, to set forth a new vision for the region.

The absence of Indonesia's President Soeharto, the sole survivor among the original five ASEAN leaders who put together their vision for the region 30 years ago, while greatly lamented, should not dampen the festive mood. Neither should the currency contagion that has affected three of the nine ASEAN members.

In the 30 years of its history, ASEAN has seen far worse predicaments than the present economic crisis. If jointly resolving crises is the raison d'etre of ASEAN, then there is no reason to be pessimistic. Whatever crises ASEAN or its members face, they can be resolved, sooner or later. Looking at how far ASEAN has come in the last three decades, the present economic crisis is simply an aberration, a temporary setback in the march toward a peaceful and prosperous Southeast Asia.

ASEAN was founded in 1967 at the height of the Cold War. The region had become a primary theater for the ideological war waged between the two superpowers at the time. Southeast Asia was filled with bloody conflicts, making it impossible for any country to develop its economy -- a condition that the leaders knew would keep their people in perpetual backwardness. Thus, the leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand cast aside their mutual suspicions and sent their foreign ministers to Bangkok to sign a declaration which founded ASEAN.

By today's standards, their vision appears modest: peace in the region and prosperity for its people. But these were ambitious undertakings when set against the backdrop of a very turbulent Southeast Asia. Their goal for ASEAN to encompass all countries in the region were put on hold, first by the escalation of the Vietnam War, and later by the prolonged war in Cambodia.

ASEAN expanded its membership as its existing members forged ahead with their cooperation programs and took the diplomatic lead in resolving the conflicts in Cambodia. Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, and Laos and Myanmar this year. Cambodia, still mired in civil war, is the lone Southeast Asian country outside the ASEAN fold. Its membership, expected next year, would make ASEAN an organization worthy of its name.

Even as they strived toward resolving the various regional conflicts, the existing ASEAN members continued to work, jointly and individually, to strengthen their economies. Along with economic strength then came political strength. ASEAN as a group has gained greater recognition in international diplomacy.

Its annual foreign ministers' meeting is now attended by the major powers and the world's economic powerhouses. More recently, it founded the ASEAN Regional Forum where Asian security issues, including real and potential conflicts, are addressed in a forum involving ASEAN members, the major Asian countries and all the world's major powers. The fact that the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea are attending this week's summit in Kuala Lumpur underscores ASEAN's importance -- politically and economically.

Looking back at the achievements of ASEAN, the leaders who are meeting in Kuala Lumpur this week have every right to pat themselves on the back. They also have rightly paid tribute to their visionary leaders who founded ASEAN 30 years ago.

But more than a feel-good summit, the leaders should also review, fine tune or renew the vision that was put forth by their predecessors 30 years ago. Not only does ASEAN encompass more members, the conditions have greatly changed since 1967.

As the current economic crisis shows, the challenges facing ASEAN, individually or collectively, are not getting any easier. But if ASEAN members show the same spirit, commitment and resolve that they have shown these past three decades, then they should be able to sail past even the roughest seas ahead of them.