The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, followed by Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, Cambodia on 30 April 1999, and Timor-Leste on 26 October 2025 making up what is today the eleven Member States of ASEAN.
ASEAN organs always strive to achieve ASEAN’s goals and objectives, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat shall be functioned as coordinating Secretariat to help facilitate effective decision-making withing and amongst ASEAN bodies. In addition, each Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to liaise with Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat
ASEAN shall develop friendly relations and mutually beneficial dialogues, cooperation and partnerships with countries and sub-regional, regional and international organisations and institutions. This includes external partners, ASEAN entities, human rights bodies, non-ASEAN Member States Ambassadors to ASEAN, ASEAN committees in third countries and international organisations, as well as international / regional organisations.
The rodmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015) was declared by the leaders in 2009. The ASEAN Community, anchored on three community pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community, Socio-Cultural Community was launched in 2015. The ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together was introduced in 2015 as a Post-2015 Vision. It comprises the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025, the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, followed by Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, Cambodia on 30 April 1999, and Timor-Leste on 26 October 2025 making up what is today the eleven Member States of ASEAN.
ASEAN organs always strive to achieve ASEAN’s goals and objectives, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat shall be functioned as coordinating Secretariat to help facilitate effective decision-making withing and amongst ASEAN bodies. In addition, each Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to liaise with Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat
ASEAN shall develop friendly relations and mutually beneficial dialogues, cooperation and partnerships with countries and sub-regional, regional and international organisations and institutions. This includes external partners, ASEAN entities, human rights bodies, non-ASEAN Member States Ambassadors to ASEAN, ASEAN committees in third countries and international organisations, as well as international / regional organisations.
The rodmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015) was declared by the leaders in 2009. The ASEAN Community, anchored on three community pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community, Socio-Cultural Community was launched in 2015. The ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together was introduced in 2015 as a Post-2015 Vision. It comprises the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025, the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025
ASEAN alongside Australia, China, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand gathered in Semarang on 21 August 2023 for the Second RCEP Ministers’ Meeting. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Trade of Indonesia and the Hon Tim Watts MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Austr
On the last day of the 55th AEM and Related Meetings, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 2nd RCEP Ministers’ Meeting. The Meeting exchanged views on the implementation of the RCEP Agreement, and welcomed the progress in the establishment of the RCEP Support Unit. Dr. K
The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 11th EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting, which was held earlier today in Semarang, Indonesia. The Meeting underscored the importance of strengthening practical cooperation amongst the EAS Participating Countries (EPCs) to bolster econ
Economic Ministers from Brunei Darussalam (ASEAN Country Coordinator for AANZFTA) and Indonesia (ASEAN Chair 2023), as well as Australia and New Zealand, gathered at the sidelines of the 28th ASEAN Economic Ministers – Closer Economic Relations (AEM-CER) Consultation in Semarang, Indonesia on 22
Semarang, Indonesia, 21 August 2023 – Parties to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), gathered in Semarang, Republic of Indonesia for the 28th ASEAN Economic Ministers – Closer Economic Relations (AEM-CER) Consultation, commenced the signing of the 2nd Protocol to Ame
The Twenty-Second AEM – Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Consultation was held on 21 August 2023. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Trade, Republic of Indonesia and H.E. LI Fei, Vice Minister of Commerce, China. The Meeting welcomed H.E. Filipus Nino Pereira, Minis
The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 22nd AEM-MOFCOM Consultation on 21 August 2023 in Semarang, Indonesia. The Meeting encouraged the officials to intensify negotiations to finalise the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) Upgrade Negotiations as soon as possible in a
The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 20th AEM-India Consultation. The Meeting welcomed the progress of the Review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and encouraged the officials to intensify their efforts in undertaking the review of the AITIGA. The Meet
The Twentieth AEM-India Consultation (AEM-India Consultation) was held on 21 August 2023. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Trade, Republic of Indonesia and Mr. Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India.
The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with Ambassador Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative, on the sidelines of 55th AEM Meeting. They welcomed the progress of economic cooperation between ASEAN and the US, particularly through the implementation of the annual work pla
