Date of Issue: 1982-08-08
Denominations: 15 cents, $1
Stamp Size: 40 mm x 30 mm
Paper: Unwatermarked white, coated postage stamp paper
Printing Process: Lithography
Printer: Messrs. John Waddington of Kirkstall Ltd., Leeds, England
Designer: Ajib N.S. Kuala Lumpur
Stamps in the Series:
First Day Cover:
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is and Association established by the five governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand under the Declaration of ASEAN, otherwise known as ‘Bangkok Declaration’ signed by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries on 8th August 1967.
ASEAN was formed on the premise that cooperation among nations in the spirit of equality and partnership would bring mutual benefits and stimulate solidarity which can contribute towards building the foundations of peace, stability and prosperity in the world community at large and among the ASEAN countries and the region of South East Asia in particular.
It has been the ASEAN’s aspiration and hope to promote peace and stability, prosperity, and harmony between the peoples of the five nations. To attain the principles and objectives of ASEAN, member countries have put their confidence in regional cooperation which is promoted through collaboration in politics, economics, social, cultural, information, and other areas.
August 8, 1982 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the Association. Today ASEAN has grown into a viable and dynamic organization in this region, which has received international recognition. During its one and a half decades of existence, ASEAN has achieved great success in developing regional resilience through cooperative projects in the fields of economics, social, science and technology, energy, health, cultural, communication, transportation and environment.
There has been cooperation in various fields in implementing ASEAN’s many projects. In the economic field, the Preferential Trading Arrangement, the ASEAN Food Security Reserve and the ASEAN Industrial Projects are major concrete examples of intensified cooperation within ASEAN. In the industrial sector, ASEAN has identified the following projects for regional collaboration: Urea Project in Indonesia and the Ammonia Project in Bintulu, Sarawak, Copper Fabrication in Philippines and Rock Salt Soda Ash in Thailand. Two of the ASEAN industrial projects are being implemented while the rest are being actively pursued.
The socio-cultural field has also been given prominence and this has resulted in numerous workshops, seminars, and projects aimed at achieving a greater understanding and appreciation of ASEAN’s rich and varied cultural heritage.
Several committees have been established by ASEAN under various sectors to make project proposals, undertake research and reviews and oversee implementation of the projects. The Committees are the Committee on Forest, Agriculture and Forestry (COFAF), the Committee on Transport and Communication (COTAC), the Committee on Industry, Minerals and Energy (COIME), the Committee on Trade and Tourism (COTT), the Committee on Finance and Banking (COFAB), the Committee on Culture and Information (COCI), the Committee on Social Development (COSD) and the Committee on Science and Technology (COST).
ASEAN Cooperation is not only restricted to its member countries but relationships are also being fostered with other nations. Externally, the past decade has seen the intensification of activities with third countries and international organizations. Dialogues have been established with the European Economic Community and organization associated with United Nations which are close-partners in cooperation and provide assistance through financing, feasibility studies, technical cooperation and expertise in modern technologies in the implementation of ASEAN projects.
The establishment of regular forums of economic collaboration with other countries is aimed not only at seeking aid and assistance but also at developing a permanent mechanism for closer and more productive economic relationships in trade, industrial and investment promotion, science and technology and other development-related areas. The signing of the ASEAN-EEC Economic Cooperation Agreement and ASEAN-Canada Cooperation Agreement in particular, are milestones in ASEAN efforts to accelerate the economic development of the region.
ASEAN’s cooperative efforts to date are a testimony to the faith of the governments and peoples of ASEAN that regional cooperation is the best means of achieving peace, stability and prosperity in the South East Asian region. The spirit of give and take and the intensification of links between peoples of the region augurs well for the future growth and stability of ASEAN.
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