Norway`s ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Eivind S. Homme, was on the 7th August 2009 accredited as the first Norwegian ambassador to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
The ASEAN declaration of 1967 encourages the association to attain its economic, social and cultural aims through "joint endeavours" and "active collaboration and mutual assistance". ASEAN agreed in 2008 upon a Charter stating that among the purposes of ASEAN, some are to strengthen democracy and good governance, to promote the rule of law and to protect human rights. Another aim is to alleviate poverty and narrow income gaps. A standing committee of permanent representatives and a coordinating council were also established, in order to more efficiently promote cooperation and implement its policies. This is expected to strenghten the organization's role as a political, economic and social actor in the region. ASEAN aims at establishing an ASEAN community by 2015 with three dimensions; ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ”ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)” and ”ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)”.
Norway supports the further development of ASEAN and its aim to build a peaceful, integrated and prosperous Southeast Asia, based on democracy and rule of law. ASEAN has already strengthened cooperation in the economic relations through for instance trade agreements with countries such as China and India. The decision to establish its own mechanism within the field of human rights is also considered a positive development. Norway wants to become a dialogue - and cooperation partner with ASEAN and to continuosly strengthen our good relationship.
Norway allocated a total amount of 612 million NOK in development aid in 2008 to the ASEAN member countries and had a total trade of 3300 million dollars with ASEAN (export 1750 mill USD and import 1541 mill USD). Trade between Norway and Myanmar is very limited.