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
At the invitation of the Chair of the ASEAN Economic Ministers for 2024 and Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, H.E. Malaithong Kommasith, after a full-day meeting, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the Gala Dinner of the 56th AEM Meeting and Related Meeting in Vient
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today attended the 21st AEM- India Consultation held in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
The Meeting welcomed the progress of the Review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), emphasising the importance of enhancing provisions to facilit
The Twenty First AEM-India Consultation (AEM-India Consultation) was held on 20 September 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Malaithong KOMMASITH, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, and H.E. Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, India. The Meet
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 13th AEM-Canada Consultation today in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Meeting reaffirmed commitment to enhance the economic relations between ASEAN and Canada, including through the negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement.
The Thirteenth AEM-Canada Consultation was held on 20 September 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Malaithong KOMMASITH, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, and the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Developm
VIENTIANE, 20 September 2024 – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME), the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Developme
The Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community, Satvinder Singh, attended the launching ceremony of the ASEAN SME Policy Index 2024, on the sidelines of the 56th AEM Meeting on 20 September 2024, in Vientiane, Lao PDR. As the third edition, the ASEAN SME Policy Index 2024 provid
The AEM – United States Trade Representative (AEM-USTR) Consultation was held on 20 September 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Consultation was cochaired by H.E. Malaithong KOMMASITH, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, and Ms. Sarah ELLERMAN, Assistant United States Trade Representative
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, participated in the AEM-USTR Consultation, held today in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
The Meeting exchanged views on the progress of economic cooperation between ASEAN and the United States, particularly through the implementation of the ASEAN-US T
The Eighth AEM-Hong Kong, China (AEM-HKC) Consultation was held on 20 September 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Malaithong KOMMASITH, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, and H.E. Algernon YAU, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of HKC. The
