ASEAN ebcid:com.britannica.oec2.identifier.ArticleIdentifier?tocId=9068910&ar... ASEAN Encyclopædia Britannica Article in full Association of Southeast Asian Nations international organization established by the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand in 1967 to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development and to promote peace and security in Southeast Asia. Brunei joined in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. The ASEAN region has a population of approximately 500 million and covers a total area of 1.7 million square miles (4.5 million square km). ASEAN replaced the Association of South East Asia (ASA), which had been formed by the Philippines, Thailand, and the Federation of Malaya (now part of Malaysia) in 1961. Under the banner of cooperative peace and shared prosperity, ASEAN's chief projects centre on economic cooperation, the promotion of trade among ASEAN countries and between ASEAN members and the rest of the world, and programs for joint research and technical cooperation among member governments. Held together somewhat tenuously in its early years, ASEAN achieved a new cohesion in the mid-1970s following the changed balance of power in Southeast Asia after the end of the Vietnam War. The region's dynamic economic growth during the 1970s strengthened the organization, enabling ASEAN to adopt a unified response to Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia in 1979. ASEAN's first summit meeting, held in Bali, Indonesia, in 1976, resulted in an agreement on several industrial projects and the signing of a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and a Declaration of Concord. The end of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union at the end of the 1980s allowed ASEAN countries to exercise greater political independence in the region, and in the 1990s ASEAN emerged as a leading voice on regional trade and security issues. For example, ASEAN adopted a declaration to resolve disputes in the South China Sea, promoted dialogue on regional security by establishing the ASEAN Regional Forum, extended membership to North Korea, and worked to resolve the conflict in East Timor. In 1992 members reduced intraregional tariffs and eased restrictions on foreign investment by creating the ASEAN Free Trade Area. To signal ASEAN's commitment to international diplomacy, human rights, and democratic values, its member countries signed the ASEAN Charter in 2007. If ratified, the charter would, among other things, confer legal personality on ASEAN, create standards of compliance with ASEAN decisions, and establish a human-rights organization within ASEAN. ASEAN summit meetings, which are held every year, bring together the heads of state of member countries; there are also annual conferences for foreign ministers. Between such conferences ASEAN business is conducted by a standing committee consisting of the foreign minister of the host country of the ministerial conferences and ambassadors from the other countries. A permanent secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, is headed by a secretary-general, whose position rotates every three years. The organization encompasses a number of committees, including technical committees on finance, agriculture, industry, trade, and transportation. The committees are supplemented by more than 70 working groups headed by experts and various private-sector organizations. ASEAN publishes an annual report, as well as the semimonthly ASEAN Newsletter. Chung-in Moon To cite this page: 1 of 2 7/17/2018 3:51 PM ASEAN ebcid:com.britannica.oec2.identifier.ArticleIdentifier?tocId=9068910&ar... MLA Style: "ASEAN." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2015. APA Style: ASEAN. (2015). Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica. 2 of 2 7/17/2018 3:51 PM Brunei ebcid:com.britannica.oec2.identifier.ArticleIdentifier?tocId=9111141&ar... Brunei Encyclopædia Britannica Article Introduction independent Islamic sultanate on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is bounded to the north by the South China Sea and on all other sides by the East Malaysian state of Sarawak, which also divides the state into two disconnected segments of unequal size. The western segment is the larger of the two and contains the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Brunei achieved independence in 1984, after having been a British protectorate since 1888. It is a member of the Commonwealth and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). The instrumental version of the national anthem of Brunei. Land Relief, drainage, and soils Brunei consists of a narrow coastal plain in the north, which gives way to rugged hills in the south. The country's highest point is Pagon Peak (6,070 feet [1,850 metres]), in the southeast. Brunei is drained by the Belait, Tutong, and Brunei rivers in the western segment and by the Pandaruan and Temburong rivers in the east; all flow generally northward to the South China Sea. The Belait is the largest river in the country. The soils of Brunei are deeply weathered, highly leached, and generally infertile. Richer alluvial soils are found along the rivers and in some parts of the coastal floodplain, and these offer the best agricultural potential. White quartz sands are prevalent in some areas. Climate The climate of Brunei is governed by the equatorial monsoon winds. The northeast monsoon typically blows from December to March, and the southwest monsoon blows from May to September. April, October, and November are transitional months. Temperatures in Brunei are warm throughout the year, typically dropping into the mid-70s F (about 23 °C) and rising to about 90 °F (32 °C) on a daily basis. Precipitation averages about 115 inches (2,900 mm) annually in the coastal areas but can exceed 150 inches (3,800 mm) farther inland. Rainfall is generally heavier from October to January and lighter from March to August. 1 of 10 7/17/2018 3:49 PM Brunei ebcid:com.britannica.oec2.identifier.ArticleIdentifier?tocId=9111141&ar... Plant and animal life About three-fifths of the country is covered with virgin tropical rainforest, and another one-fifth is under secondary forest. The undisturbed rainforest consists mainly of hardwoods of the Dipterocarpaceae family (notably of the genus Shorea), most of which are of commercial value. Large expanses of freshwater and peat swamps are found in the poorly drained lowlands of the Belait and Tutong rivers, while mangrove swamps are common along the lower riverine reaches and sheltered coastal areas. The complex vegetation of the rainforest provides niches for a rich variety of animals, including proboscis monkeys, leaf monkeys, pigtail macaques, gibbons, sun bears, sambar deer, pangolins, bats, and many other mammals. Among Brunei's most notable birds are its argus pheasants and hornbills. Numerous species of reptiles, including the large reticulated python, inhabit the country's swamps and woodlands. People Ethnic groups About three-fifths of the population of Brunei is classified officially as Malay. This category, however, includes not only ethnic Malays but also a number of the indigenous peoples, namely the Dusun, Belait, Kedayan, Murut, and Bisaya (Bisayah). Chinese make up about one-fourth of the population. The remainder of Brunei's residents consists of other (non-“Malay”) indigenous peoples, such as the Iban (or Sea Dayak); various peoples of South Asian descent; and temporary workers, primarily from Asia and Europe. The official language is Malay, with English as a major second language. Brunei's population is predominantly Sunni Muslim, although the Chinese usually follow Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, or Christianity. Some of the indigenous peoples are Christian, while others follow their own local religions. Settlement patterns The forested uplands of Brunei's interior are sparsely populated by indigenous peoples, who practice shifting agriculture. In the country's western segment, the Iban and the Belait generally inhabit the westernmost region near the border with Sarawak, while the Kedayan are concentrated in the central and eastern areas, and the Kadazan live primarily in the rural parts of the east-central region. The Murut and Bisaya have settled mainly in the eastern segment of Brunei. The Malays are distributed in the riverine and coastal villages and towns throughout the country, and the Chinese are concentrated in the urban areas. About two-thirds of Brunei's population is found in and around Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital and largest urban centre. The city is located on the Brunei River about 9 miles (14 km) from its mouth on Brunei Bay. Adjacent to the modern section of the city is an older part called Kampong Ayer, where Brunei Malays live in houses built on stilts along inlets of the river. The area surrounding the cities of Kuala Belait and Seria, both in the oil-rich zone of the southwestern coast, is the country's next most densely settled region. 2 of 10 7/17/2018 3:49 PM Brunei ebcid:com.britannica.oec2.identifier.ArticleIdentifier?tocId=9111141&ar... Economy Brunei's economy is almost totally dependent on the exploitation of its vast reserves of petroleum and natural gas. Although oil and gas revenues have allowed the state to give its citizens one of the highest per capita incomes in Asia, they also have made the country dependent on a single commodity that is subject to market fluctuations. In addition, Brunei must rely on imports for nearly all its manufactured goods and most of its food. In an effort to ensure the country's economic stability, the government has since the late 20th century striven to diversify the economy by developing other sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and financial services. Agriculture, fishing, and forestry Agriculture, fishing, and forestry, once the mainstays of Brunei's economy, declined in importance after the discovery of petroleum resources in the 1920s. By the end of the 20th century, these three activities accounted for just a tiny fraction of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employed a comparably small segment of the workforce.