What is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and what is its purpose? The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a multilateral organization which was (27) _____ to give Southeast Asian states a forum to communicate (28) _____ each other. Since the region had a long colonial past and a history of endemic warfare, there has never been much peaceful and constructive (29) _____ between kings, presidents and other officials. A neutral forum was, (30) _____, a very useful development for all of those countries. ASEAN was formed as a result of the Bangkok Declaration of 1967 and initially had five members: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore. Brunei subsequently joined in 1984 after it had won independence from Britain. Vietnam became the seventh member of the group, officially joining in 1995. After several years of negotiation, Myanmar and Laos joined in 1997 and the final member of the ten, Cambodia, joined in 1999. The only (31) _______ state in Southeast Asia which is not a member of ASEAN is now East Timor. It is still too vulnerable and fragile to be able to participate for the foreseeable future. 27. A. created B. made C. done D. discovered 28. A. in B. on C. for D. with 29. A. interflow B. interaction C. interference D. intercommunity 30. A. nevertheless B. moreover C. therefore D. however 31. A. dependent B. independent C. independently D. independence