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
This evening, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, H.E. Hou Yanqi, over a dinner at the Ambassador’s residence. They took the opportunity to take stock and exchange views on ASEAN-China relations and discussed, among othe
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with President of the State Audit Organization of Lao PDR Viengthavisone Thephachanh. Both sides underscored the importance of the role of the ASEAN Audit Committee (AAC) in strengthening the governance process at the ASEAN Secretariat throug
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a courtesy call by former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow, in his new capacity as Senior Advisor for Asia at SICPA at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, where they discussed potential cooperation
MANILA, 21 June 2024 – The 12th and final negotiation round for the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition (AFAC) took place from 13-14 June, in Manila, Philippines. It was hosted by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), with PCC Commissioner Lolibeth Ramit-Medrano as chair of the
In an interview with China Media Group today, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn delved into ASEAN’s initiatives aimed at fostering regional peace, stability, and prosperity. SG Dr. Kao also elaborated on the long-standing relations between ASEAN and China covering many areas of coo
On 20 June 2024, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, Ekkaphab Phanthavong, met with Deputy Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Celeste Drake at the ASEAN Headquarters. The ASEAN Secretariat and ILO discussed ways to further strengthen coopera
On 21 June 2024, the 49th ASEAN Audit Committee Meeting was held at ASEAN Hall of the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat to discuss matters related to audit, risk and governance of The ASEAN Secretariat. H. E. Viengthavisone Thephachanh, the President of the State Audit Organization (SAO) of Lao
DILI, 21 June 2024 – The ASEAN Travelling Resource Persons Programme supported by Australia, through the Aus4ASEAN Futures initiative, is a six-month programme designed to enhance the expertise of Timorese government officials on the work of ASEAN. The programme aims to provide in-depth knowle
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Economic Community (AEC) Satvinder Singh welcomed the visit of Deputy Secretary General (Trade) MITI Malaysia, Madam Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, on 21 June 2024 at the ASEAN Secretariat/ ASEAN Headquarters. They discussed Malaysia’s priorities ahead of its ASEAN C
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a courtesy call by the Dean/Managing Director of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)’s School of Government, Professor Nobuhiro Aizawa. Dr. Kao welcomed the establishment of the School of Government, which ai
