In support of the Indochinese countries' efforts to become ASEAN members, this project began in FY 1995 with a focus on Vietnam, which achieved that goal during that year. Since then, the project has broadened its scope in response to the dynamism of the Southeast Asian region as a whole, which is now moving toward consolidation as the so-called "ASEAN 10": the seven current member countries plus Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. In advance of any similar assistance extended by the Japanese or neighboring Southeast Asian governments to help these countries become ASEAN members, the project's arena of activities was expanded in FY 1996 from Vietnam to Cambodia and Laos, both slated for admission to ASEAN in and after July 1997.
For the second year of activities in Vietnam, a seminar was held at which participants debated Vietnam's policy and position regarding AFTA. As the seminar was the first of its kind to be held in the city of Danang, it contributed greatly to the spread of AFTA-related awareness and information in central Vietnam, an area largely overlooked by international aid activities.
Seminars were also held in Laos and Cambodia. As the first such activities there to focus on ASEAN membership, they generated keen interest in the issue and spurred each country's preparations for that new role. In addition, officials from Laos made a study tour of three ASEAN countries. The project will be further expanded in FY 1997 to involve Myanmar as well.