Context

• The Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar attended the ‘ASEAN post-ministerial conference’ in Vientiane, the capital of Laos People’s Democratic Republic.
• He discussed various aspects of bilateral collaboration, including education and agriculture technology with the EAM of South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Laos and others.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• Established: 8th August, 1967 (Bangkok, Thailand)
• Founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand
• Present Members (10): Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam

ASEAN Summit: 

• It is the highest policy-making body in ASEAN. 
• The summit is held twice annually at a time to be determined by the Chair of the ASEAN Summit in consultation with other ASEAN Member States.
• First ASEAN Summit: 23-24 February 1976 (Bali, Indonesia)
• 43rd ASEAN Summit: September 2023 (Jakarta, Indonesia)
• 44th ASEAN Summit: 6-11 October 2024 (Vientiane, Laos) 
• ASEAN Coordinating Council: Established in 2008, the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) comprises the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and meets at least twice yearly to prepare for the ASEAN Summit. 

East Asia Summit (EAS):

• 1st Summit: 2005 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
• It has 16 participating countries: ASEAN Member countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea.