By Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama,
Singapore : A centre that will assist the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to carry out its regional community-building work was officially launched at the 41st Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) which began here Monday.
The centre located within the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), here was launched by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in conjunction with the opening of the AMM.
Lee said the centre, which would work closely with the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, would undertake policy research on ASEAN, look at measures to help the organisation grow new capabilities, strengthen its institution and enhance cooperation among its members.
According to ISEAS, the centre started operations in March this year and it was mandated to acquire, develop, and disseminate knowledge about Southeast Asia as a region, the countries in it, and its relations with others in the international community.
The centre’s main focus would be on ASEAN as an association, an institution and a process.
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan had welcomed the establishment of collaborative links between the ASEAN Secretariat and the centre.
The centre is headed by former ASEAN Secretary-General Rodolfo Severino who joined ISEAS as Senior Visiting Research Fellow after his term with ASEAN expired in 2002.
Since its establishment, the centre has organised a workshop on the ASEAN Community and the challenges to achieving it in April.
The centre also sponsored a presentation of the findings of a survey on ASEAN awareness among university undergraduates in all the ASEAN member-countries.
On July 17, the centre partnered with the Habibie Centre in organising a symposium on the ASEAN Charter.
The centre plans to organise conferences on ASEAN cooperation in food, energy and natural disasters, nuclear energy, environmental issues, climate change and the steps necessary to accelerate regional economic integration.