Answer:ASEAN, (the Association of South East Asian Nations), was founded in 1967 “to strengthen further the existing bonds of regional solidarity and cooperation.” The Philippines was one of the founding member countries when ASEAN was set up in Jakarta, while the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which was implemented in December 2015, has a primary purpose to create one of the largest single market economies in the world, facilitating the free movement of goods, services, and professionals between the 10 member states. As a result, the Philippines relationship and interaction with ASEAN and its members is of key importance to the bloc.

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