Understanding development gaps in ASEAN

Abstract

One of the important agenda in the Bali Concord II is the narrowing of development gaps in ASEAN. Adopted at the ASEAN Summit in 2003 – the Concord has so far been the most significant among the regional measures in that it outlines the modalities and the extent to which the grouping’s member countries are willing to go to realise an envisioned community of ‘caring societies, peaceful, prosperous’. The Concord therefore can be seen as an embodiment of these aspirations as seen in the goals to establish an ASEAN Community via the three-pillared communities – namely the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), ASEAN Security Community (ASC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Communities (ASCC) - by the year 2020.