Presentation by Secretary-General of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) The Assembly then proceeded to an address by Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of ASEAN. ASEAN started as a loose association of five countries, but by 2009 approximately 38 external organizations had appointed ambassadors to ASEAN. ASEAN pursued economic prosperity, but it also pursued the priorities of development and consolidation of democracy, the protection of human rights and the foundation of equitable and inclusive societies. ASEAN's charter, drafted in 2007, and ratified by each member state was founded on three pillars, namely, political development and security, economic prosperity and identity. It was ASEAN's goal to become a single market characterised by open regionalism as a path to mutual prosperity.