THE PILLARS OF THE ASEAN

COMMUNITY
 THE PILLARS OF THE ASEAN
COMMUNITY

 Indonesia's Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023 focuses on making ASEAN a stable

and peaceful region, a dignified region that upholds humanity values and
democracy. As the chair of ASEAN, Indonesia will focus on strengthening ASEAN
to become a fast-growing, inclusive and sustainable economic region.

 It also aims to strengthen ASEAN institutional capacity and effectiveness so it can

face even more difficulties in the coming 20 years. Indonesia aims to gear
towards ASEAN 2045, which must be more adaptive, responsive, and
competitive. All of this must be fought for in the ASEAN way, consistent with the
spirit of cooperation and ASEAN’s vision and fully implementing the ASEAN
 THE PILLARS OF THE ASEAN
COMMUNITY

ASEAN’s vision is to realize dynamic cooperation among

Southeast Asian countries in a peaceful, stable and prosperous
manner. This vision is the result of the agreement of the
Leaders of ASEAN countries. This vision is then realized
through three pillars of ASEAN Community.
THE PILLARS OF THE ASEAN
COMMUNITY

•ASEAN Political-Security Community

(APSC)

•ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)

•ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)

PILLAR NO. 1 ASEAN Political-Security
Community (APSC)
The APSC shall aim to ensure that countries in the region live at
peace with one another and with the world in a just, democratic and
harmonious environment.

The members of the Community pledge to rely exclusively on peaceful

processes in the settlement of intra-regional differences and regard
their security as fundamentally linked to one another and bound by
geographic location, common vision and objectives. It has the following
components: political development; shaping and sharing of norms;
conflict prevention; conflict resolution; post-conflict peace
building; and implementing mechanisms.
PILLAR NO. 1 ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC)
THE APSC BLUEPRINT

https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/APSC_BluePrint.pdf

 The APSC Blueprint is guided by the ASEAN Charter and the principles and
purposes contained therein. It provides a roadmap and timetable to
establish the APSC by 2015. It also leaves room for flexibility to continue
programmes/activities beyond 2015 in order to retain its significance and
have an enduring quality.

 The APSC Blueprint was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 14th
ASEAN Summit on 1 March 2009 in Cha-am/Hua Hin, Thailand.
PILLAR NO. 1 ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF THE APSC

 It is envisaged that the APSC will bring ASEAN’s political and security cooperation to a higher
plane. The APSC will ensure that the peoples and Member States of ASEAN live in peace with
one another and with the world at large in a just, democratic and harmonious environment.
 The APSC shall promote political development in adherence to the principles of democracy, the
rule of law and good governance, respect for and promotion and protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms as inscribed in the ASEAN Charter.
 The APSC subscribes to a comprehensive approach to security, which acknowledges the
interwoven relationships of political, economic, social-cultural and environmental dimensions
of development
PILLAR NO. 1 ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF THE APSC

Based on the above, the ASEAN Political-Security Community envisages

the following three key characteristics:
A Rules-based Community of shared values and norms;
A Cohesive, Peaceful, Stable and Resilient Region with shared
responsibility for comprehensive security;
A Dynamic and Outward-looking Region in an increasingly integrated
and interdependent world.
PILLAR NO. 1 ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF THE APSC

1. A Rules-based Community of shared values and norms

 In the shaping and sharing of norms, ASEAN aims to achieve a standard of common adherence to
norms of good conduct among member states of the ASEAN Community; consolidating and
strengthening ASEAN’s solidarity, cohesiveness and harmony; and contributing to the building of a
peaceful, democratic, tolerant, participatory and transparent community in Southeast Asia.

2. A Cohesive, Peaceful and Resilient Region with Shared Responsibility for

Comprehensive Security
 In building a cohesive, peaceful and resilient Political Security Community, ASEAN subscribes to the principle of
comprehensive security, which goes beyond the requirements of traditional security but also takes into account
non-traditional aspects vital to regional and national resilience, such as the economic, socio-cultural, and
environmental dimensions of development. ASEAN is also committed to conflict prevention/confidence building
measures, preventive diplomacy, and post-conflict peace building.
PILLAR NO. 1 ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF THE APSC

3. A Dynamic and Outward-looking Region in An Increasingly Integrated and

Interdependent World
 ASEAN fosters and maintains friendly and mutually beneficial relations with external parties to ensure
that the peoples and Member States of ASEAN live in peace with the world at large in a just,
democratic and harmonious environment. ASEAN remains outward-looking and plays a pivotal role in
the regional and international fora to advance ASEAN’s common interests.
PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
 With a market size of $2.3 trillion and 600 million people, AEC
aims to achieve a single integrated market through the process of
regional economic integration.
 The AEC is the realization of the regions’ end goal of economic
integration.

 It envisions ASEAN as a single market and product base, a

highly competitive region, with equitable economic
development, and fully integrated into the global economy.
PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
 In 1998, the Leaders adopted the Hanoi Plan of Action (HPA). It chartered out a
set of initiatives for economic integration to realize the ASEAN Vision 2020.
Recognizing the need for an integrated region, the Leaders issued the Declaration
of ASEAN Concord II in 2003 which set out the establishment of ASEAN
Community (initially targeted by 2020 but was later accelerated to 2015). The
Declaration of ASEAN Concord II comprise of three pillars including the AEC.

 The AEC Blueprint 2015 was adopted in 2007 as a coherent master plan guiding
the establishment of the AEC in 2015. Immediately after that, a new AEC
Blueprint 2025 was developed to set the strategic directions for the next phase of
ASEAN’s economic integration agenda. The AEC Blueprint 2025 is envisaged to
further deepen economic integration and achieve a more integrated economic
community with the following characteristics:
PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)

•A Highly Integrated and Cohesive Economy

•A Competitive, Innovative and Dynamic ASEAN

•Enhanced Connectivity and Sectoral Cooperation

•A Resilient, Inclusive, People Oriented and People-Centered

ASEAN,

•A Global ASEAN
 PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
•A Highly Integrated and Cohesive Economy
The ASEAN Economic Community envisions ASEAN as a single market and production base. Free flow of
goods, services, investments, capital, and labor will allow the development of production networks in the region
and enhance ASEAN’s capacity as the global supply chain.

Trade & Market Integration

•Trade In Goods
•Rules Of Origin
•Trade In Services
•Investment
•Trade Facilitation
•Customs
•ASEAN Single Window
•Finance Integration
•Standard & Conformance
PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
•A Competitive, Innovative and Dynamic ASEAN

The objective of this characteristic is to focus on the elements that contribute to increasing
the region’s competitiveness and productivity by:
 Engendering a level playing for all firms through effective competition policy
 Fostering the creation ang protection of knowledge
 Deepening ASEAN participation in GVCs
 Strengthening related regulatory frameworks and overall regulatory practice and
coherence at the regional level.
PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
The key elements of a competitive, innovative and dynamic ASEAN include:
1. Effective Competition Policy
2. Consumer Protection
3. Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights Cooperation
4. Productivity-driven Growth, Innovation, Research and Development, and
Technology Commercialization
5. Taxation Cooperation
6. Good Governance
7. Effective, Efficient, Coherent And Responsive Regulations, and Good
Regulatory Practice
8. Sustainable Economic Development
9. Global Megatrends and Emerging Trade-related Issues
 PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
•Enhanced Connectivity and Sectoral Cooperation
The main objectives of this characteristic are to enhance economic connectivity involving
various sectors, namely:
 transport
 Telecommunication
 energy
…in line with and in support of the vision and goals of the Master Plan on ASEAN
Connectivity (MPAC) and its successor document, as well as to further integrate and cooperate
in key sectors that complement existing efforts towards creating an integrated and sustainable
economic region, with the aim to maximize their contribution in improving the overall
competitiveness of ASEAN and strengthening soft and hard networks in the region.
PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
TRANSPORT
Strategic measures include:
1. Land transport
2. Air transport
3. Maritime transport
4. Transport facilitation
5. Sustainable transport
PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)

Information and Communications Technology

Strategic measures include:
1. Economic Transformation
2. People Integration and Empowerment through ICT
3. Innovation
4. ICT Infrastructure Development
5. Human Capital Development
6. ICT in the Single Market
7. New Media and Content Industry
PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
E-COMMERCE
Strategic measures include:
1. Harmonized consumer rights and protection laws
2. Harmonized legal framework for online dispute resolution, taking
into account available international standards
3. Inter-operable, mutually recognized, secure, reliable and user-
friendly e-identification and authorization (electronic signature)
schemes
4. Coherent and comprehensive framework for personal data
protection
PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
ENERGY
Strategic measures include:

1. ASEAN Power Grid (APG)

2. Trans- ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGO)
3. Coal and Clean Coal Technology
4. Energy Efficiency and Conservation
5. Renewable Energy (RE)
6. Regional Policy and Planning
7. Civilian Nuclear Energy
 PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Strategic measures include:
1. Increase crop, livestock, and fishery/aquaculture production
2. Enhance trade facilitation, and remove barriers to trade to foster competitiveness and economic
integration
3. Enable sustainable production and equitable distribution
4. Increase resilience to climate change, natural disasters and other shocks
5. Improve productivity, technology and product quality to ensure product safety, quality and
compliance with global market standards
6. Promote sustainable forest management
7. Further enhance cooperation in production and promotion of halal food and products
8. Develop and promote ASEAN as an organic food production base, including striving to achieve
international standards
 PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
TOURISM

Strategic measures include:

1. Enhance competitiveness of ASEAN as a single tourism destination

2. Achieve a more sustainable and inclusive pattern of ASEAN tourism
 PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
HEALTHCARE
Strategic measures include:

1. Continue opening up of private healthcare market and Public-Private Partnership (PPP)

investments in provision of universal healthcare in the region
2. Further harmonization of standards and conformance in healthcare products and services, such
as common technical documents required for registration processes and nutrition labelling
3. Promote sectors with high-growth potential such as health tourism and e-healthcare services,
which will not have negative impact on the healthcare system of each ASEAN Member State
4. Promote strong health insurance systems in the region
5. Further facilitate the mobility of healthcare professionals in the region
 PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
MINERALS
Strategic measures include:

1. Facilitate and enhance trade and investment in minerals

2. Promote environmentally and socially sustainable mineral
development
3. Strengthen institutional and human capacities in the ASEAN minerals
sector
4. Maintain and efficient and up-to-date ASEAN minerals Database
 PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Strategic measures include:

1. Strengthen existing networks of S&T centers of excellence to promote cooperation

2. Enhance mobility of scientists and researchers
3. Establish systems and mechanisms that will increase the engagement of women and
youth in STI to promote entrepreneurship
4. Raise public awareness of various achievements
5. Establish innovative support systems
6. Establish new strategies for partnership
 PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
•A Resilient, Inclusive, People Oriented and People-
Centered ASEAN,
AEC seeks to significantly enhance the third characteristic “Equitable
Economic Development” by deepening existing elements and incorporating
other key elements.
• Strengthening the Role of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
• Strengthening the Role of the Private Sectors
• Public- Private Partnerships
• Narrowing the Development Gap
• Contribution of Stakeholders on Regional Integration Efforts
 PILLAR NO. 2 ASEAN ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY (AEC)
•A Global ASEAN

ASEAN is continuing to make steady progress towards integrating the region into global
economy through FTAs and comprehensive economic partnership agreements (CEPs) with
China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Building on the gains from ASEAN’s global engagement and its economic integration
initiatives, ASEAN will work towards further integrating the AEC into the global economy.
PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) is one of the three pillars of ASEAN Community. It is
committed to lifting the quality of life of its people by putting their welfare and well-being at the heart of its
activities. To promote better quality of life for the peoples and their communities in ASEAN, the Member
States cooperate on a wide range of areas such as:
• Culture and Information
• Education, Youth and Sports
• Social Welfare and Development
• Women and Gender
• Labour
• Civil Service
• Rural Development and Poverty Eradication
• Environment
• Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance
• Health and Communicable Diseases
• Science and Technology
 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025

A. ENGAGES AND BENEFITS THE PEOPLE

The ASEAN Community shall be characterised as one that engages and benefits its peoples, upheld by the
principles of good governance.

It focuses on multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder engagements, including Dialogue and Development

Partners, sub-regional organisations, academia, local governments in provinces, townships, municipalities
and cities, privatepublic partnerships, community engagement, tripartite engagement with the labour sector,
social enterprises, government grganisation, non-governmental organisation, civil society organisation (GO-
NGO/CSO) engagement, corporate social responsibility (CSR), inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue, with
emphasis on raising and sustaining awareness and caring societies of ASEAN, as well as deepening the
sense of ASEAN identity.
 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025

A. ENGAGES AND BENEFITS THE PEOPLE

The objective is to enhance commitment, participation and social responsibility of ASEAN
peoples through an accountable and engaging mechanism for the benefit of all,
towards a community of engaged and empowered ASEAN peoples who are provided
the platforms to participate in ASEAN processes as well as to enjoy the benefits from the various
initiatives.

The key result areas and corresponding strategic measures are as follows:
 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025

The key result areas and corresponding strategic measures are as follows:

A.1. Engaged Stakeholders in ASEAN processes

A.2. Empowered People and Strengthened Institutions

 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025

B. INCLUSIVE
In realizing the overarching goals of an ASEAN Community 2025, the
ASCC is envisioned to move towards a more inclusive community. This would entail the
promotion of equitable access to opportunities for ASEAN peoples, and the promotion
and protection of human rights of women, children, youths, the elderly/ older persons,
persons with disabilities, migrant workers, ethnic minority groups, and vulnerable and
marginalized groups, throughout their life cycle, guided by a life-cycle approach and
adhering to rights-based principles in the promotion of ASEAN policies and
programmes in the ASCC Pillar.
 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025

B. INCLUSIVE
The objective of this Characteristic is an inclusive ASEAN Community
that promotes an improved quality of life, addresses barriers to the enjoyment of
equitable access to opportunities by ASEAN peoples, and that promotes and protects
human rights.

The key result areas and corresponding strategic measures are as follows:
 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025

B. INCLUSIVE
The key result areas and corresponding strategic measures are as
follows:

B.1. Reducing Barriers

B.2. Equitable Access for All

B.3. Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025

C. SUSTAINABLE
In moving towards the realisation of the overarching goals of an ASEAN
Community 2025, the ASCC envisions the achievement of a sustainable environment in the
face of social changes and economic development.
The objective of this Characteristic is to promote and ensure balanced social
development and sustainable environment that meet the needs of the peoples at all times. The
aim is to strive for an ASEAN Community with equitable access to sustainable environment
that can support its social development and its capacity to work towards sustainable
development.
 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025

C. SUSTAINABLE
The key result areas and corresponding strategic measures are as follows:

C.1. Conservation and Sustainable Management of Biodiversity and Natural Resources

C.2. Environmentally Sustainable Cities

C.3. Sustainable Climate

C.4. Sustainable Consumption and Production

 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025
D. RESILIENT
Integrated, comprehensive, and inclusive approaches are necessary to build resilient communities in the ASEAN
region post-2015. Resilience is an essential aspect of human security and sustainable environment which is addressed by
integrating policies, capacity and institution-building, stakeholder partnerships in disaster risk reduction, humanitarian
assistance, and community empowerment, among others. Resilience has to be inclusive, non-discriminatory and incorporates
market and technology-based policies, including contributions from the private sector as well as the scientific and academic
communities.
The objective of this Characteristic is to achieve an enhanced capacity to collectively respond and adapt to current challenges
and emerging threats. This recognises that socio-cultural resilience has cross-pillar linkages within the ASEAN Community as
an effective force for moderation for the common good, and one that is prepared for natural and human-induced disasters, and
socioeconomic crises, while fully embracing the principles of comprehensive security
 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025
D. RESILIENT
The key result areas and corresponding strategic measures are as follows:

D.1. A Disaster Resilient ASEAN that is able to Anticipate, Respond, Cope, Adapt, and Build Back Better, Smarter, and Faster

D.2. A Safer ASEAN that is able to Respond to all Health-related Hazards including Biological, Chemical, and Radiologicalnuclear, and
Emerging Threats

D.3. A Climate Adaptive ASEAN with Enhanced Institutional and Human Capacities to Adapt to the Impacts of Climate Change
 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025
D. RESILIENT
The key result areas and corresponding strategic measures are as follows:

D.4. Strengthened Social Protection for Women, Children, Youths, the Elderly/Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Ethnic Minority
Groups, Migrant Workers, Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups, and People Living in At-risk Areas, including People Living in Remote and
Border Areas and Climate Sensitive Areas, to Reduce Vulnerabilities in Times of Climate Change-related Crises, Disasters and other
Environmental Changes

D.5. Enhanced and Optimised Financing Systems, Food, Water, Energy Availability, and other Social Safety Nets in Times of Crises by
making Resources more Available, Accessible, Affordable and Sustainable

D.6. Endeavour towards a “Drug-Free” ASEAN

 PILLAR NO. 3 ASEAN SOCIO-CULTURAL
COMMUNITY
(ASSC)
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF ASEAN SOCIO-
CULTURAL COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT 2025
E. DYNAMMIC
The objective of this Characteristic is to strengthen the ability to continuously innovate and be a proactive member of the global community. It
aims to provide an enabling environment with policies and institutions that engender people and firms to be more open and adaptive, creative,
innovative, and entrepreneurial.

The key result areas and corresponding strategic measures are as follows:

E.1. Towards an Open and Adaptive ASEAN

E.2. Towards a Creative, Innovative and Responsive ASEAN

E.3. Engender a Culture of Entrepreneurship in ASEAN

SUMMARY
 SUMMARY

The ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders on the 30th Anniversary of
ASEAN, agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations,
outward looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in
dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.