It is my sincere honor, on behalf of the Philippine chair, to greet the friends, partners and supporters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the historic occasion of ASEAN's 50th Anniversary.

Fifty years ago, on Aug. 8, 1967, the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand declared the establishment of ASEAN as a "firm foundation for common action to promote regional cooperation in Southeast Asia in the spirit of equality and partnership and thereby contribute toward peace, progress and prosperity in the region."

Adopted amid a more tumultuous time around and within Southeast Asia, the Bangkok Declaration of 1967 represented the founding members' recognition that their region's future lay in fostering amity and cooperation. Just as importantly, the founding members recognized that a prosperous and peaceful Southeast Asia meant going beyond their ranks to create a community that brings together the other states in the region, wisely opening the association to the entry of future members.