To assist AECEN Members and others in promoting improved environmental compliance and enforcement in Asia, AECEN has adopted a set of regional principles that are based on international law and national experiences in Asia, and worldwide. Based on a consultative process with Members and other experts, the principles reflect national experiences in Asia, and worldwide. In applying the principles, AECEN Members and other agencies develop courses of action based on their own legal and institutional frameworks, developmental policies and priorities, and available resources.

At the 2006 AECEN Regional Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam, the AECEN Secretariat presented the draft final principles, and received feedback from Members. To facilitate further comment, the Secretariat solicited feedback from Members and others via a commenting mechanism on the AECEN website during a comment period that ran from July 1, 2007, to October 31, 2007. The AECEN Secretariat reviewed all comments, and revised and finalized the principles accordingly. The Secretariat will share the final version at the 2007 Regional Forum in Beijing, China.