It is of great significance to review the accomplishments of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on its 40th anniversary. Throughout history, Southeast Asia had never been a unified area. It was made up of countries scattered over the Southwest Pacific like pearls. Nowadays, ASEAN plays a vital role in the region and serves as the most important regional group in the world, with its member countries unified and working together.

After 40 years of development, it is obvious that, based on the fact that ASEAN countries are highly diversified, the organization has taken a very different road to become a successful territorial group if compared with the European Union (EU). When it was established, founders of ASEAN clearly intended to avoid restrictions inside the group. Therefore, ASEAN has no organizing role, but rather a declaration. Signed by the ASEAN members, the declaration serves as a programmatic document, stating the organization's main goals and basic principles.

In terms of operation, ASEAN has created a unique "ASEAN mode" of regional engagement based on the following six core principles:

.To remain open and non-exclusive

.To be a non-mandatory and non-obligatory organization

. To settle intra-regional problems by consensus after negotiations instead of by majority rule

.To hold the national interests of its member countries as its top priority (Although differences of opinion exist among member countries, especially with regards to international matters such as regional security problems, the members adopt the stance of the most involved countries on particular issues to ensure ASEAN speaks with one voice.)

.To settle disputes by peaceful resolution instead of by force or threats, and not to interfere in the domestic affairs of any of its member countries

.To focus on coordination among world powers, and ASEAN's functions in regional and international communities

Achievements

During the past 40 years, ASEAN has contributed greatly to the development, prosperity and stability of both the region and the entire Asia-Pacific area.

First, ASEAN has served as the glue that binds Southeast Asian countries. It holds together several scattered small, weak countries in a big regional group. Its friendly gestures have attracted big powers. In accordance with its regional open policy, ASEAN has increased the number of its member countries from the five original ones to 10. These countries seek common ground for their shared interests and goals, while respecting their differences. Thus, so many different countries form a community.

ASEAN opposes interference in member countries' internal affairs and the use of armed force to settle problems. Therefore, despite whatever happens within ASEAN or between member states, the organization can maintain peace and its integrity-a great success in and of itself.

At present, ASEAN is a regional group with 10 member countries in an area covering 4.3 million square km with a total of more than 500 million people. The ASEAN area's GDP stands at $737 billion, and its trade volume has reached $720 billion. ASEAN could be deemed as the regional group of East Asia or even of the Asia-Pacific region.

Second, ASEAN is the key designer and promoter of regional cooperation in East Asia, and it plays the leading role in regional integrity. Nowadays, its impact has gone far beyond Southeast Asia, to East Asia, the Asia-Pacific and even to the international community. In East Asia, ASEAN acts as the leading force of regional integrity. It has created the "10+1" and "10+3" cooperation structures to include three East Asian countries of China, Japan and South Korea in its activities.

Adhering to its principles of openness, inclusiveness and non-exclusivity, it recently pushed East Asia cooperation to a new level. ASEAN has built an effective cooperation platform, the East Asia Summit, which also includes some countries outside East Asia such as India, Australia and New Zealand. ASEAN constantly raises its cooperation level in order to maintain its dominant position in the region and works toward its goal of creating an East Asian community.

Third, ASEAN is devoted to maintaining the security and stability of East Asia and has been a protector of regional security. When the Cambodian issue happening in 1978 threatened regional security, ASEAN stood up along with international efforts and helped reach a political settlement. When the disputes over South China Sea issue disturbed regional security, ASEAN worked with the Chinese Government and cooled the issue by drafting the Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea.

With many unstable factors in East Asia, ASEAN started the ASEAN Regional Forum, the only security mechanism in the region. Under this security framework, foreign ministers from the forum's 26 member countries hold annual meetings to exchange thoughts on regional security.

Fourth, ASEAN seeks to establish dialogue systems with big powers to create a favorable exterior environment for its own development. Diplomatic relations with these countries in a variety of areas have blessed ASEAN with capital, technology and markets, which no single member country could have accomplished on its own. Because ASEAN as a whole is of profound political, economic and strategic significance, every great power pays attention to it. The keys to ASEAN's development and strength are exploring relations with great powers and maintaining equidistance diplomatic relations with any one power.

Second thoughts on new challenges

In today's world, globalization and territorial integration are top concerns. China and India are rising to ASEAN's forefront. For the organization, this brings not only great opportunities, but also great challenges.

In light of this situation, ASEAN should be more aware of its defects and shortcomings. The first defect is that the organization's economic cooperation and integrity have lagged. Despite ASEAN's initial industrial programs for a free trade area, little progress has been made. It has revised its plan of operation several times. Also, the timeframe for the zero-tariff policy for the six old ASEAN members (Indonesia,