Changes

'''The Association of Southeast Asian Nations''' ('''ASEAN''') was founded in 1967 by [[Indonesia]], [[Thailand]], [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]] and the [[Philippines]] to combat communism.  It signed trade agreements with [[Japan]] (1977) and the [[European Community]] (1980) in order to reduce [[tariffs]] and promote [[free trade]]. It has now grown to include 10 countries, one of which ([[Vietnam]]) has a communist government.

'''The Association of Southeast Asian Nations''' ('''ASEAN''') was founded in 1967 by [[Indonesia]], [[Thailand]], [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]] and the [[Philippines]] to promote [[peace]] and [[security]] in [[Southeast Asia]] and to accelerate [[economic]] development despite the ongoing [[war]]s between the [[United States]] and [[Chinese]] and [[Soviet]]-aided forces in [[Indochina]]. After the 1975 [[communist]] victories there, ASEAN helped its members adjust to the changed [[balance of power]] and expanded to include [[Brunei]], [[Vietnam]], [[Laos]], [[Myanmar]], and [[Cambodia]].  It signed trade agreements with [[Japan]] (1977) and the [[European Community]] (1980) in order to reduce [[tariffs]] and promote [[free trade]]. It has now grown to include 10 countries, one of which ([[Vietnam]]) has a communist government.

ASEAN's current stated aims and purposes are ''to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the principles of the [[United Nations Charter]]''.<ref>http://www.aseansec.org/64.htm</ref>

ASEAN's current stated aims and purposes are ''to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the [[rule of law]] in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the principles of the [[United Nations Charter]]''.<ref>http://www.aseansec.org/64.htm</ref>

In July 2025 Russian [[President Vladimir Putin]] announced plans to establish railway transport links to [[Laos]] via [[China]]. This move would dramatically expand [[Eurasian]] connectivity and tie [[Southeast Asia]] into the growing web of [[Russian]]–[[Chinese]] [[infrastructure]] and bypassing [[Western alliance|Western-controlled]] routes. It's another step toward a [[multipolar]] [[trade]] order, linking the [[Arctic]] to ASEAN by rail.

In July 2025 Russian [[President Vladimir Putin]] announced plans to establish railway transport links to [[Laos]] via [[China]]. This move would dramatically expand [[Eurasian]] connectivity and tie [[Southeast Asia]] into the growing web of [[Russian]]–[[Chinese]] [[infrastructure]] and bypassing [[Western alliance|Western-controlled]] routes. It's another step toward a [[multipolar]] [[trade]] order, linking the [[Arctic]] to ASEAN by rail.