JAKARTA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Forty years have passed since the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a period that saw a positive development of interactions not only among its members, but also East Asian countries in general.

    The 10-member ASEAN has successfully promoted cooperation and dialogue in the region and become a "bridge builder" among countries in the greater scope of East Asia, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said in an interview with Xinhua Tuesday evening.

    "The biggest achievement of ASEAN in the past 40 years of its existence since 1967 was that we were able to enjoy peace and stability that allowed us to focus our energy, time and resources on the economic development of countries in Southeast Asia," said Wirajuda.

    And "we reach a level that allows us now to transform ASEAN from a rather loose association into an ASEAN Community," added Wirajuda, an instrumental figure behind the grouping's struggle for economic, socio-culture and political integration.

    It was in their Summit on the Indonesian resort island of Bali four years ago that leaders agreed to establish the ASEAN Community based on the above three pillars by 2020, but the deadline has been now moved forward to 2015.

    "Yes, by nature ASEAN is an association of ten Southeast Asian nations.. but at the same time ASEAN has been very open, an active bridge builder in East Asia.

    "ASEAN has been playing an important role in the driving seat (of) the regional integration process of East Asia."

    The minister pointed to the ASEAN Regional Forum that becomes very influential to encourage countries in the region and beyond to promote dialogue in political security and "has contributed to the creation and maintenance of regional peace and security.

    "Not to mention ASEAN as an initiator of various inter-region cooperation, such as the ASEAN-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the forum for East Asia and North America."

    ASEAN was founded on Aug. 8, 1967 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration by the five founding states: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

    Brunei became the sixth ASEAN member in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995 and Laos and Myanmar two years later. Cambodia gained its membership in 1999.