Thank you for having me and for inviting me to discuss ASEAN in the context of Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy.
In my five-minute opening remarks, I'll address three key points. The first is the origins of ASEAN. The second is the principal characteristics that have defined ASEAN. The third is the current internal dynamics of the association.
I apologize beforehand if some of this overlaps with the earlier panel I was watching. Some of these points will overlap, but they will build on the earlier comments.
The main point I intend to make is that ASEAN is a very pragmatic organization that reflects a wide range of interests, but whose raison d'être has always been regional stability. That emphasis on pragmatism and regional stability will shape its relations with countries from outside the region.
ASEAN was established in 1967 to address social, cultural, economic and political issues in the region. The real concern that led to ASEAN's founding was that of security. In the 1960s, Southeast Asia was rife with conflict, problems of external great power interference, and ethnic and communist insurgencies within numerous countries. These risked overwhelming the region.
ASEAN was therefore established—