The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, also known as ASEAN Ministerial Meeting is held annually to discuss and decide on major policy matters and cooperation programmes. The ASEAN member countries host the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on a rotational basis in an alphabetical order.

Similarly, the ASEAN Standing Committee, which is the executive body in ASEAN, is chaired annually by individual ASEAN member countries on a rotational basis in an alphabetical order. The ASEAN Standing Committee is entrusted by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting to oversee the implementation of the policies and programmes.

There are five economic committees taking charge of cooperation in Food, Agriculture & Forestry; Finance and Banking; Industry, Minerals and Energy; Transport and Communications; and Trade and Tourism. There are three other "non-economic" or "functional" committees whose principal responsibilities are to oversee and initiate cooperation in Culture and Information; Science and Technology; and Social Development.

The ASEAN Secretariat was established in 1976 as the coordinating body for ASEAN. It functions as the channel for formal communications between various committees and ASEAN National Secretariats, located in the capitals of ASEAN member states. The ASEAN Secretariat also coordinates the implementation of projects and programmes of the various ASEAN committees.

Since 1967, Singapore has hosted three ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in 1972, 1977 and 1982. Singapore will host the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on 15-16 June 1987.

This stamp issue is released to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of ASEAN.