The ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN ISIS) is an association of institutes in the region that aim to strengthen regional cooperation through joint studies and seminars.

The network came to the attention of governments through its policy papers, leading to the development of close relations with the ASEAN senior officials meeting (SOM). What is now known as track two or the second track came into being. ASEAN ISIS has become a model for a number of similar activities.

The group has established a series of meetings that have become a major venue for exchanges of ideas, not only amongst Southeast Asians but also with experts and government officials from other parts of the world.

The Asia Pacific Roundtable (APR), with a theme of confidence building and conflict reduction, has been hosted annually in June in Malaysia since the mid 1980s, and has been a forum for ASEAN ISIS from 1994. A Human Rights Colloquium takes place in the Philippines in the beginning of each year.

Since 2000, the ASEAN People’s Assembly (APA) has also been organized, involving a wide range of civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs). The first took place in Batam (Indonesia) and the second in Bali(Indonesia). The third was held in Manila (Philippines) on September 24-27, 2003. The latest APA was also held in Manila (Philippines) on May 10-13, 2005.

ASEAN ISIS also organizes regular bilateral seminars with counterpart institutions in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indiaand Europe. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Southeast Asia Regional Program has provided financial support to promote these activities.