ASEAN Full Form- Association of Southeast Asian Nations

What is ASEAN? The full form of ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Ten Southeast Asian and Pacific Rim nations make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional organisation whose governments work together to foster sociocultural, political, and economic development in the area. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a 21-nation economic alliance that supports free trade and sustainable development among the nations around the Pacific Rim, counts ASEAN as an official observer. With the signing of the Bangkok Declaration in 1967, ASEAN was established. The first membership of the association consisted of the following five members: Indonesia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.

ASEAN Summit: The heads of state or government of ASEAN member states convene at the ASEAN Summit, which is the highest policy-making body in the region. The timing of the twice-yearly ASEAN Summit is decided by the summit's chair after consulting with other ASEAN member states. The ASEAN Member State in charge of the ASEAN Chairmanship will host the summit. On February 23–24, 1976, Bali, Indonesia, hosted the first ASEAN summit.

Importance of ASEAN Charter and ASEAN Summit

• The ASEAN Charter serves as a stable foundation in building the ASEAN Community by giving  institutional framework and legal status for ASEAN. 
• Along with presenting accountability and compliance, it also establishes defined aims for ASEAN and codifies its principles, regulations, and values. 
• On December 15, 2008, in the presence of ASEAN foreign ministers at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, the ASEAN Charter came into effect.
• ASEAN will function under a new legal framework and create several new organs to support its community-building process as a result of the ASEAN Charter coming into effect.
• The ten ASEAN Member States have legally enforceable agreements, which are embodied in the ASEAN Charter. 
• In accordance with Article 102, Paragraph 1 of the United Nations Charter, it will also be registered with the UN Secretariat.