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SAARC & ASEAN

For all Competitive Exams / JKSSB & JKPSC

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• Sources Followed
➢ Drishti IAS- https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-
institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc
➢ BY JU’s- https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/asean/
➢ Quora- https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-SAARC-logo-represent
➢ Wikipedia- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asian_Association_for_Regional_Cooperation
➢ Official Website- https://www.saarc-sec.org/

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
• The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC
Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.
The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first raised in November 1980. After consultations, the foreign
secretaries of the seven founding countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—met
for the first time in Colombo in April 1981.
✓ Afghanistan became the newest member of SAARC at the 13th annual summit in 2005.
✓ The Headquarters and Secretariat of the Association are at Kathmandu, Nepal.

• The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is based on five principles: Sovereign equality,
Territorial integrity, Political independence, Non-interference in internal affairs of member states, and Mutual
benefit.

▪ Cooperation within the framework of the SAARC shall be based on:

➢ Respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in the
internal affairs of other States and mutual benefit.
➢ Such cooperation shall not be a substitute for bilateral and multilateral cooperation but shall complement them.
➢ Such cooperation shall not be inconsistent with bilateral and multilateral obligations.

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Members of SAARC?
• SAARC comprises of eight member States:
➢ Afghanistan
➢ Bangladesh
➢ Bhutan
➢ India
➢ Maldives
➢ Nepal
➢ Pakistan
➢ Sri Lanka

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

• There are currently nine Observers to SAARC, namely:

• Australia,
• China,
• The European Union,
• Iran,
• Japan,
• The Republic of Korea,
• Mauritius,
• Myanmar,
• The United States of America.

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Objectives of the SAARC?
1. To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality
of life.
2. To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the
region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to
realize their full potentials.
3. To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of
South Asia.
4. To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s
problems..
5. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social,
cultural, technical and scientific fields.
6. To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries.
7. To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters
of common interests.
8. To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and
purposes..

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Areas of Cooperation?
1. Human Resource Development and Tourism
2. Agriculture and Rural Development
3. Environment, Natural Disasters and Biotechnology
4. Economic, Trade and Finance
5. Social Affairs
6. Information and Poverty Alleviation
7. Energy, Transport, Science and Technology
8. Education, Security and Culture and Others

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Principal Organs of the Cooperation?
• Meeting of Heads of State or Government
Meetings are held at the Summit level, usually on an annual basis.
• Standing Committee of Foreign Secretaries
The Committee provides overall monitoring and coordination, determines priorities, mobilizes resources, and approves
projects and financing.
• Secretariat
✓ The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987. Its role is to coordinate and monitor the
implementation of SAARC activities, service the meetings of the association and serve as a channel of
communication between SAARC and other international organizations.
✓ The Secretariat comprises the secretary-general, seven directors, and the general services staff.
✓ The secretary-general is appointed by the Council of Ministers on the principle of rotation, for a non-renewable
tenure of three years.

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
SAARC’s Specialised Bodies?
SAARC Development Fund (SDF):
• Its primary objective is funding of project-based collaboration in social sectors such as poverty alleviation,
development, etc.
• SDF is governed by a Board consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Finance of the Member States. The
Governing Council of SDF (Finance Ministers of MSs) oversees the functioning of the Board.
South Asian University
• South Asian University (SAU) is an international university, located in India. Degrees and Certificates awarded by the
SAU are at par with the respective Degrees and Certificates awarded by the National Universities/ Institutions.
South Asian Regional Standards Organization
• South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) has its Secretariat at Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• It was established to achieve and enhance coordination and cooperation among SAARC member states in the fields
of standardization and conformity assessment and is aimed to develop harmonized Standards for the region to
facilitate intra-regional trade and to have access in the global market.
SAARC Arbitration Council
• It is an inter-governmental body having its office in Pakistan is mandated to provide a legal framework/forum within
the region for fair and efficient settlement of commercial, industrial, trade, banking, investment and such other
disputes, as may be referred to it by the member states and their people.

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SAARC LOGO

1. Seven pigeons represent the seven

member countries – Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka seeking peace. The
pigeons symbolize peace and freedom.
(Afghanistan is new addition)
2. Two eyes of Buddha, who is the symbol
of peace.
3. Two thumbs symbolize – member
countries of the SAARC vow
(Sankalpa) to unite and support one
another in the time of need.
4. Two hands together symbolize
friendship and goodwill that all seven
countries in the region, which are all
dedicated to helping one another.

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SAARC
1. Ambassador Mr. Md. Golam Sarwar of
Bangladesh assumed office of the
Secretary General of the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) on 25 October 2023
2. Term- 03 Years
3. First Secretary General- Abdul Ahsan

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Importance of SAARC
1. SAARC comprises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the
world's population and 3.8% (US$2.9 trillion) of the global
economy.
2. Creating synergies: It is the world’s most densely
populated region and one of the most fertile areas.
SAARC countries have common tradition, dress, food
and culture and political aspects thereby synergizing
their actions.
3. Common solutions: All the SAARC countries have
common problems and issues like poverty, illiteracy,
malnutrition, natural disasters, internal conflicts,
industrial and technological backwardness, low GDP and
poor socio-economic condition and uplift their living
standards thereby creating common areas of
development and progress having common solutions.

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Achievements of SAARC
1. Free Trade Area (FTA): SAARC is comparatively a new
organization in the global arena. The member countries have
established a Free Trade Area (FTA) which will increase their
internal trade and lessen the trade gap of some states
considerably.
2. SAPTA: South Asia Preferential Trading Agreement for promoting
trade amongst the member countries came into effect in 1995.
3. SAFTA: A Free Trade Agreement confined to goods, but excluding
all services like information technology. Agreement was signed to
reduce customs duties of all traded goods to zero by the year
2016.
4. SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS): SATIS is
following the GATS-plus 'positive list' approach for trade in
services liberalization.
5. SAARC University: Establish a SAARC university in India, a food
bank and also an energy reserve in Pakistan.

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summits have been held in many countries,
including:
• Dhaka, Bangladesh: The first SAARC summit was held in Dhaka on December 7–8, 1985. The heads of state or
government signed the SAARC Charter and adopted the Dhaka Declaration.
• Bangalore: The second SAARC summit was held in Bangalore in 1986.
• Kathmandu: The third SAARC summit was held in Kathmandu in 1987.
• Islamabad: The fourth SAARC summit was held in Islamabad in 1988.
• Male': The fifth SAARC summit was held in Male' in 1990.
• Colombo: The sixth SAARC summit was held in Colombo in 1991.
• New Delhi: The eighth SAARC summit was held in New Delhi in 1995.
• Thimphu: The sixteenth SAARC summit was held in Thimphu in 2010.
• Addu City: The seventeenth SAARC summit was held in Addu City in 2011.
• Kathmandu: The eighteenth SAARC summit was held in Kathmandu in 2014.
• Islamabad: The nineteenth SAARC summit was held in Islamabad in 2016, but was postponed after India
canceled its participation due to the 2016 Uri terror attack.

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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
1. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization which was established to promote
political and social stability amid rising tensions among then Asia-Pacific’s post-colonial states.
2. The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.
3. 8 August is observed as ASEAN Day.
4. ASEAN Secretariat – Indonesia, Jakarta.
5. ASEAN was established in Bangkok, Thailand on August 8, 1967, with the aim of promoting regional cooperation
through dialogue. The organization's headquarters are in Jakarta, Indonesia

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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an international organization of 10 countries in
Southeast Asia:
1. Brunei
2. Cambodia
3. Indonesia
4. Laos
5. Malaysia
6. Myanmar
7. The Philippines
8. Singapore
9. Thailand
10. Vietnam
Some of the founding members of ASEAN include Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, and Lao PDR in 1997.
ASEAN is the United States' fourth-largest trading partner. The countries have a combined GDP of over $2.9
trillion and a population of 647 million people
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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
ASEAN Purpose

1. Accelerating economic growth, cultural development, and social progress in the region by joint initiatives in the
spirit of partnership and equality to cement the foundation for a peaceful and strong community of SE Asian
countries.
2. Promoting peace and stability in the region by incorporating respect for justice and the rule of law in the
relationships between nations and adherence to the United Nations principles.
3. Promoting active collaboration and mutual assistance in subjects of common interest in social, economic,
cultural, administrative, scientific, and technical domains.
4. Assisting member countries via training and research facilities in the educational, administrative, technical, and
professional domains.
5. Cooperating for better usage of agriculture and industries, trade expansion (including studying the problem of
international commodity trade), improving communication and transportation facilities, and improving living
standards among the people.
6. Promoting SE Asian studies.
7. Exploring more avenues for further cooperation among themselves, and maintaining close and advantageous
cooperation with other international groupings of similar objectives.

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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
ASEAN Fundamental Principles
1. Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all
nations;
2. The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
3. Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
4. Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
5. Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
6. Effective cooperation among themselves.

ASEAN Headquarters
1. The body is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2. Secretary-General: Dato Lim Jock Hoi
3. Official Languages: Burmese, Filipino, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, Thai and Vietnamese
4. Working Language: English

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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Q 1. When is ASEAN Day observed?
Ans. August 8 every year is observed as the ASEAN Day. The 54th ASEAN Day will be observed on August 8,
2021.
Q2
Q 2. What is ASEAN Charter?
Ans. The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008. It serves as a firm foundation in achieving the
ASEAN Community by providing legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN.
Q3
Q 3. What is the motto of ASEAN?
Ans. The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.

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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
ASEAN-led Forums

ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): Launched in 1993, the twenty-seven-member

multilateral grouping was developed to facilitate cooperation on political and security
issues to contribute to regional confidence-building and preventive diplomacy.

ASEAN Plus Three: The consultative group initiated in 1997 brings together ASEAN’s
ten members, China, Japan, and South Korea.

East Asia Summit (EAS): First held in 2005, the summit seeks to promote security and
prosperity in the region and is usually attended by the heads of state from ASEAN,
Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the United
States. ASEAN plays a central role as the agenda-setter.

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