ASEAN’s achievements and contribution to its members Since its inception in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has made a number of achievements towards regional peace, stability, and prosperity. Thailand has played an active role in ASEAN from the very beginning. Thailand is one of the founding members of ASEAN, together with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. The ASEAN Declaration or Bangkok Declaration was signed on 8 August 1967 at Saranrom Palace, Bangkok. As stipulated in the Bangkok Declaration, ASEAN was established with an aim to promote peace and stability, and accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavors in a spirit of equality and partnership. Over the years, ASEAN has gradually evolved and expanded to include Brunei Darussalam (1984), Viet Nam (1995), Lao PDR and Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999). The peace and stability that the Southeast Asian countries have been enjoying today to a large extent, largely due to ASEAN's role as a forum that promotes and fosters trust and confidence amongst its Member States. ASEAN has successfully maintained peace, stability and security in the region through the various frameworks and mechanisms, such as Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) (1971), Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) (1976), and Southeast Asian Nuclear‐Weapon‐Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ) (1995). To further enhance regional cooperation in political and security issues, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was established in 1994, which now comprises 27 participating countries including all major regional players. The ARF who serves as a forum for constructive dialogue and consultation is to promote confidence-building and preventive diplomacy in the region. On the economic front, ASEAN has made an important milestone in regional economic integration with the conclusion of ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Agreement in 1992. Since then, ASEANhas continuously pursued closer economic cooperation in trade, services and investment, and moved towards a single market and production base to increase the regional competitiveness. Furthermore, ASEAN Leaders have agreed to start negotiating on the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) which will encompass 6 Dialogue Partners, i.e. China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. ASEAN has also enjoyed functional cooperation in many areas, such as education, disaster management, health, environment, rural development, and science and technology (S&T), to name just a few. Such cooperation has helped to increase regional resilience and enabled us to respond effectively to challenges such as pandemics (SARS), natural disasters (2004 tsunami and 2008 Cyclone Nargis), and other transboundary challenges such as haze and drugs. With regard to external relations, ASEAN has cultivated close cooperation in numerous fields in the frameworks of ASEAN+1 (with its 10 dialogue partners, i.e. Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, United States, and European Union), ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit (EAS). With the participation of Russia and the United States in 2011, the EAS now includes a number of key global players. Three out of five Permanent Members of the UNSC and eight members of the G20 are now part of the EAS.
It’s contribution to it’s members ASEAN has been and will continue to be a cornerstone of Thailand’s foreign policy. Thailand attaches great importance to enhancing cooperation within ASEAN frameworks to build trust and confidence among ASEAN Member States, as well as to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Thailand’s contribution to ASEAN has been continuous and active. Under our chairmanship in 2008‐2009, the ASEAN Charter entered into force and transformed ASEAN into a truly rules‐based organization. Thailand is thus fully committed to the effective implementation of the ASEAN charter, which is vital to the ASEAN community‐building process. In the political and security field, Thailand is committed to work with ASEAN Member States to maintain a peaceful and stable regional environment, which is vital for continued economic development and growth in this region. Thailand has been at the forefront of regional efforts in building trust and confidence through the various existing mechanisms and frameworks such as the TAC, the EAS, the ADMM and ADMM Plus, as well as the ARF. We have worked actively with our ASEAN colleagues to promote preventive diplomacy and as certain that all existing dispute settlement mechanisms truly function. In the economic field, Thailand sees regional economic integration as a means to ensuring sustainable and equitable growth in the region, enhancing competitiveness of ASEAN Member States, and contributing to our integration into the global economy. Thailand has been a strong advocate for ASEAN’s regional economic integration, which has taken shape since the inception of AFTA in 1992. Thailand will continue to play an active role in deepening regional economic cooperation through the development of the RECEP, which will represent the size of half of the global market and help further boost the collective vibrant economic potential in East Asia. In the socio‐cultural field, Thailand is a strong proponent of a people‐centered ASEAN Community as envisioned by the ASEAN Charter. Under our chairmanship, Thailand has initiated the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting with representatives of ASEAN Inter‐Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), civil society organizations (CSOs) and youth to increase their interaction with ASEAN and promote their involvement in the community‐building process.

Contribution of ASEAN to its member countries in the aspect of security
1. Food
Food Security Acknowledging the important of food security to keep the stability, and prosperity of the region, the ASEAN Member States signed the Agreement on ASEAN Food Security Reserve (AFSRB) in 1979. Under the Agreement, each ASEAN Member State should establish an ASEAN Emergency Rice Reserve (AERR), a sum total of the basic food stock (rice) maintained by each Member Country within its national border. Presently, the total earmarked quantity for the AERR stands at 87,000 metric tons. Two projects related to food security are being implemented under the AMAF+3 mechanisms, namely: East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve (EAERR) and the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS). In response to the recent developments of soaring food prices, global financial crisis and an increasing concern on food security in the ASEAN region, the Thirtieth (30th) Meeting of AMAF held in Hanoi on 23 October 2008 endorsed the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and Strategic Plan of Action on ASEAN Food Security (SPA-FS) with the main goal of ensuring long-term food security and to improve the livelihoods of farmers in the ASEAN region. The 14th ASEAN Summit, held on 26 February – 1 March 2009 in Cha-am, Thailand had adopted the AIFS Framework and SPA-FS and issued a Statement of which the Leaders pledge to embrace food security as a matter of permanent and high priority policy and to encourage partnership with concerned institutions and agencies, dialogue partners and international organizations to pursue this important endeavor.
Food handling

ASEAN established the “ASEAN General Guidelines on the Preparation and Handling of Halal Food” in the view to further expand intra-ASEAN trade in meat and meat-based products. The Guidelines was prepared based on and in line with the Association of Religious Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (MABIMS) Guidelines for Preparation of Food and Drink for Muslims and Codex General Guidelines for Use of the Term “Halal”. The Guidelines serves as a practical reference for food industry in the production and handling of halal food for more effective presence in the regional and international market.

Food Safety

ASEAN has developed the ASEAN Food Safety Network website (www.aseanfoodsafetynetwork.net) to provide useful information on food safety, such as SPS measures of various countries, issues in the international standards setting bodies (Codex, OIE, IPPC, etc.) as well as the works of various ASEAN bodies related to food safety.

2. Agriculture
Crops
Increasing of consumers’ awareness on food safety has prompted ASEAN to give strong attention on the use of agrochemical that resulted residues on treated agricultural produces. Works have been done to harmonize maximum residual levels (MRLs) of pesticides in agricultural produces that are traded in the region. To date, AMAF has adopted a total of 802 ASEAN harmonized MRLs for 63 pesticides. Another step forward in the regional effort to control pesticide use to improve marketability of agricultural products and prevent environmental degradation is the establishment of pesticide database and network among ASEAN Member States. ASEAN committed to enhance its international competitiveness of food and agriculture products to enable the region to be the leading producer of these products. A number of efforts have been undertaken in order to realize the Vision, including the enhancement of food control systems and procedures to assure the freer movement of safe, healthy and quality food within the region. The ASEAN Good Agricultural Practices (ASEAN-GAP) for fresh Fruit and Vegetables has been developed and adopted as a standard for the production, harvesting and post-harvest handling of fruits and vegetables in the region. ASEAN had also developed the ASEAN Standards for Mango, Pineapple, Durian, Papaya, Pumelo, Rambutan, Mandarin, Lansium, Guava, Mangosteen and Watermelon to ensure that these commodities are available fresh to the consumers after preparation and packaging.

Fisheries A number of cooperative projects and activities in fisheries have been implemented among others, Development of Aquaculture, ASEAN Network of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology (FPHT), Harmonization of Fishery Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures, ASEAN-SEAFDEC Collaboration on Sustainable Fisheries Management in the Southeast Asia Region, and fisheries related projects under the ASEAN Australia Development Cooperation Programme (AADCP) To promote sustainable aquaculture, ASEAN developed the Manual on Good Shrimp Farm Management Practices, Harmonization of Hatchery Production of Penaeus monodon (tiger prawn) in ASEAN and Manual on Practical Guidelines for the Development of High-health Penaeus monodon Broodstoc. These manual had been translated into national language in some Member States for easier reference for the fish farmers. ASEAN has also developed Guidelines on Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Health Certification and Quarantine Measures for the Responsible Movement of Live Food Finfish as a tool to reduce risks of fish diseases due to trans-boundary movement of live aquatic animals in the region. As part of the ASEAN efforts to promote regional and international trade of fish products through the implementation of HACCP, the Hazards Guide - A Guide to the Identification and Control of Food Safety Hazards in the Production of Fish and Fisheries Products in the ASEAN Region has been compiled to act as reference and provide detailed guidance to regulators, SMEs and other interested parties on fish and fish products related hazards, hazards control and food safety progammes.

Biotechnology ASEAN acknowledged the importance of the agricultural biotechnology as a tool to increase food productivity on a sustainable basis. However, at the moment, there is public concern on the use of biotechnology that needs to be addressed by the respective authorities. ASEAN adopted the Guidelines on the Risk Assessment of Agriculture-related Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The Guidelines serve to provide ASEAN Member States with a common understanding and approach when conducting scientific evaluations for the release of agriculture-related GMOs. To enhance and strengthen the capacity building, ASEAN, in collaboration with the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Southeast Asia has organized a series of training workshops on the use of the ASEAN Guidelines on Risk-Assessment of Agriculture-related GMOs for the regulators and decision makers. Three training workshops on Safety and Risk Assessment of Agriculture-related Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) were organized in Singapore (2001), Kuala Lumpur (2002), Bangkok (2003), and Jakarta (2004). To develop the important aspects of regulating GMO, ASEAN is implementing initiative on ASEAN Genetically Modified Food Testing Network. The Initiative is to assist ASEAN Member States to better utilize existing national resources on genetic modification and food safety, as well as gain better access to information on developing GM testing capabilities for food.

Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion To promote trade in agriculture and forest products, ASEAN extended the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on ASEAN Cooperation in Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion Scheme for the another five years, viz. 2004 to 2009. The MOU is used as a basis to pursue cooperation with the private sector and to coordinate joint positions on issues related to trade in ASEAN agriculture and forest products. The new MOU is now under consideration by the ASEAN Member States which will cover the following 11 products, Carrageenan and other Seaweeds, Cocoa, Coconut, Coffee, Forest Products (Timber and Non-Timber), Palm Oil, Peas and Beans, Pepper, Tapioca, Tea, and Tuna.

3. Forestry

Forest is a very important natural resource for the ASEAN region in terms of economical, environmental and socio-cultural benefits. The increase forest production, both in terms of quantity and quality, and increase exports using methods that are economically and environmentally sustainable are still challenges in ASEAN. ASEAN cooperation in forestry involves working with Dialogue Partners, international organizations and third-parties such as Australia, Germany, Sweden, and FAO have been undertaken to address priority issues in the region. The promotion of sustainable forest management (SFM) is of the utmost interest and priority to ASEAN Member States. This has led to the formulation of guidelines where it can be used as references for Member States in developing their respective country-specific national criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. In compliance with the international forestry reporting requirements on progress towards the achievement of sustainable forest management at the national and regional levels, the 29th AMAF Meeting on 1 November 2007 in Bangkok endorsed the followings: i) ASEAN Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Management of Tropical Forests; ii) Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Format for Sustainable Forest Management in ASEAN; and iii) ASEAN Guideline for the Implementation of IPF/IFF proposals for Action. Another reference used as a guide is the FAO Code of Practice for Forest Harvesting in Asia Pacific, which has been adopted by ASEAN to develop specific national codes and / or guidelines. The Ministers also declared the “Ministerial Statement on Strengthening Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) in ASEAN” in view of reaffirming ASEAN’s commitment in combating illegal logging and its associated trade. Promotion of conservation and sustainable use of natural resources is the main agenda of the ASEAN Cooperation in CITES. It includes protection of wild fauna and flora from illegal exploitation. This is shown through declaration of ASEAN Statement on CITES and endorsement of the ASEAN Regional Action Plan on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora by the AMAF. As a tool in realizing the commitments in the Statement, the ASEAN Wildlife Law Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) was launched in December 2005. The Network involves officials from CITES Authorities, Customs, Police, Prosecutors, Specialized Governmental Wildlife-law Enforcement Organizations and other relevant national law enforcement agencies.