ASEAN has cultivated close cooperation with countries and organizations outside the region in numerous fields such as trade, investment, human resource development, science and technology, education, drug trafficking and anti-terrorism. These are done through the frameworks of ASEAN+1 (with its 1O Dialogue Partners -- Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, The Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation, the United States, and the European Union, as well as with the United Nations), ASEAN Plus Three and the East Asia Summit (EAS).

                - ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations established in 1974

                - ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations established in 1975

                - ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations established in 1977

       - ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations established in 1977      

                - ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations established in 1977

                - ASEAN-UNDP Dialogue relations were established in 1977 and has since been succeeded by

                  the ASEAN-UN comprehensive partnership

                - ASEAN-US Dialogue Relations established in 1977

                - ASEAN-the Republic of Korea Dialogue Relations established in 1991

                - ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations established in 1995

                - ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations established in 1996

                - ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations established in 1996

                The APT seeks to promote greater cooperation in economic and many functional areas amongst the ten ASEAN Member States and its three partners, namely, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, thus contributing to greater stability and prosperity in the East Asian region. The EAS serves as a forum for strategic dialogue amongst the ten ASEAN Member States and its key partners, namely, Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the United States, and seeks to reinforce an ASEAN-centered regional architecture for the wider Asia-Pacific region.

                ASEAN also has sectoral dialogue relations with Pakistan and Norway. Papua New Guinea is a Special Observer to ASEAN.  In addition, ASEAN has cultivated ties with a number of regional groupings such as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Southern Common Market or MERCOSUR, the Rio Group and its successor the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Pacific Alliance.

                ASEAN also seeks to play a more proactive role in the global community of nations by contributing to addressing the key regional and global challenges to humanity.  In so doing, ASEAN will continue to promote a common “ASEAN voice” in multilateral fora and to engage actively with global partners to promote shared goals.