Southeast Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia.

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic and volcanic activity.

Southeast Asia consists of two geographic regions: the Asian mainland, and island arcs and archipelagoes to the east and southeast. The mainland section consists of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam; the population of which are primarily Tai peoples and Austroasiatic peoples; the dominant religion is Buddhism, followed by Islam. The maritime section consists of Brunei, East Timor,[1] Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. Austronesian peoples predominate in this region; the dominant religion is Islam, followed by Christianity.


Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), organization established by the Bangkok Declaration (1967), linking the nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Subsequently, Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos (1997), Myanmar (1999), and Cambodia (1999) were admitted. The organization's secretariat is in Jakarta. ASEAN seeks to promote socioeconomic progress and regional stability through cooperation in banking, trade, technology, agriculture, industry, and tourism. Members agreed in 1992 to create the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), a regional common market, which became effective in 1993. Tariffs among the six oldest ASEAN nations are to be phased out by 2007; the rest of ASEAN will complete the process in 2012. At the same time, under an 2004 agreement with China, tariffs on many goods will be eliminated by 2010 with the ASEAN 6 and by 2015 with the rest. In 1995 a treaty proclaiming Southeast Asia a nuclear-weapons-free zone was signed by ASEAN members and then-prospective members Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Members are also pledged to work together to promote foreign investment in the region. In 2005, ASEAN established the East Asia Summit as a broader regional forum for its members and China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.

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