KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia held a flag raising ceremony on Tuesday to mark the 39th Anniversary of the formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

    As the grouping matures, ASEAN countries have to seek new ways to strengthen their efforts in creating an integrated ASEAN, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid told the ceremony held at his ministry in Putrajaya, the administrative center of the Malaysian government.

    Many steps should be taken to see the birth of an ASEAN Community and one of them is to create the awareness of ASEAN among peoples in ASEAN countries, he said.

    The flag raising ceremony is one of the many ways to this end, he added.

    ASEAN was established on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok by the five original member countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The regional organization now embraces 10 nations which also includes Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

    ASEAN countries celebrate the 39th ASEAN Day this year with a common theme of "ASEAN and Young People".

    This year's theme is most apt and forward-looking, as the young makes up the majority of the population of ASEAN member countries, Syed Hamid said.

    Malaysia has lined up several activities for the celebration this year, including the 2006 ASEAN Lecture to be delivered by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

    Malaysia also will host the 2006 regional ASEAN Quiz in September. Secondary students of ASEAN countries whose team had earlier won the ASEAN Quiz at the national level will participate in this biennial event. Enditem