(ASEAN) A regional organization formed by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand through the Bangkok Declaration of 1967. Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Myanmar (Burma) and Laos in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. ASEAN aims to accelerate and to promote regional stability. In 1992 it agreed to create the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) as the first step towards the creation of an ASEAN common market. Progress towards internal free trade is ongoing, and ASEAN is also working towards free trade with regional trading partners. The ASEAN-Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Area was created in 2009.