ASEAN Summit

The ASEAN Summit is the highest policy-making body in ASEAN comprising the Head of States or Government of ASEAN Member States. The ASEAN Summit is held twice annually at a time to be determined by the Chair of the ASEAN Summit in consultation with other ASEAN Member States. The summit is to be hosted by the ASEAN Member State holding the ASEAN Chairmanship. The First ASEAN Summit was held in Bali, Indonesia on 23-24 February 1976.

The ASEAN Summit may also be convened whenever necessary, as special or ad hoc meetings to be chaired by the Member State holding the ASEAN Chairmanship, at venues to be agreed upon by ASEAN Member States.

The ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) is the body responsible for preparing for the ASEAN Summit. The ACC also coordinates the implementation of agreements and decisions of the ASEAN Summit, coordinates the reports of the ASEAN Community Council to the ASEAN Summit, and undertake other functions as may be assigned by the ASEAN Summit.

The ASEAN Summit’s staple document is the Chairman’s Statement, which summarizes/takes stock of ASEAN’s achievements and expected deliverables of a Chairmanship year. Additionally, numerous documents are also considered and adopted by the Leaders at the ASEAN Summits, on key issues pertaining to the realization of the objectives of ASEAN, important matters of interest to Member States and all issues referred to it by the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies.