The Declaration of ASEAN Concord signed in Bali on 24 February 1976 reaffirmed ASEAN's commitment in expanding ASEAN cooperation in the economic, social, political and cultural fields. Also known as the Bali Concord. It declared among others that Member states should vigorously develop an awareness of regional identity and exert all efforts to create a strong ASEAN community. The Concord adopted the following program of action as a framework for ASEAN cooperation in culture and information:

1. Introduction of the study of ASEAN, its member states and their national languages as part of the curricula of schools and other institutions of learning in the member states.

2. Support of ASEAN scholars, writers, artistes and mass media representatives to enable them to play an active role in fostering a sense of regional identity and fellowship.

3. Promotion of Southeast Asian studies through closer collaboration among national institutes.

After the Bali Summit in 1976, the growing spirit of regional cooperation through people-to-people contact and interaction began to expand to other areas as manifested in the growth of non-governmental organizations each wanting to share and participate in the efforts of regional cooperation.

At the Second Summit held August 1977 in Kuala Lumpur, the ASEAN machinery was reorganized and the original committees were restructured. An ad hoc body known as the ASEAN Cultural Working Group was established in 1978 to carry out the functions of the Permanent Committees on Social and Cultural Activities and Mass Media.

A Joint Study Group on Cultural Cooperation was also organized in the same year to work out the necessary programs and projects for cultural cooperation between ASEAN and Japan as well as to review the progress and development of intra-ASEAN cultural programme.