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
Together with the Chair of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting 2024 and Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, H.E. Malaithong Kommasith, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon concluded his engagements in a series of meetings in Vientiane, Lao PDR, by attend
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon attended the 3rd Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministers’ Meeting, held in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
The Meeting discussed the implementation of the RCEP Agreement and the RCEP Accession Procedures. The Meet
ASEAN alongside Australia, China, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand gathered in Vientiane on 22 September 2024 for the Third RCEP Ministers’ Meeting. The Meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, Director General of International Trade Negotiations, Ministry of Trade of the Republic of
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, along with other Ministers or representatives from the ASEAN Member States, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea attended the 27th AEM-Plus Three (APT) Consultation, held in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
The Meeting reviewed the progress made in the i
The Twenty-Seventh ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Plus Three Consultation was held on 22 September 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Malaithong KOMMASITH, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR; H.E. Li Fei, Vice Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republi
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 21st ASEAN Economic Ministers – Republic of Korea (AEM-ROK) Consultation today in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
The Meeting discussed the progress of implementation of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA) and the AKFTA upgrade. The Meeti
The Twenty-First ASEAN Economic Ministers – Republic of Korea (AEM-ROK) Consultation was held on 22 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. Inkyo Cheong, Minister for Trade of the Re
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this morning met with H.E. Li Fei, Vice Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, on the sidelines of the 56th AEM Meeting and Related Meetings. They discussed progress of the ACFTA 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations and initiatives to strengthen
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 23rd ASEAN Economic Ministers – Ministry of Commerce (AEM-MOFCOM) Consultation, in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 22 September 2024.
The Meeting discussed the progress of ASEAN-China economic cooperation, including ASEAN-China FTA 3.0 Upg
The Twenty Third AEM-Ministry of Commerce (AEM-MOFCOM) Consultation was held on 22 September 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Consultation was cochaired by H.E. Malaithong KOMMASITH, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, and H.E. Li Fei, Vice Minister of Commerce of China. The Meeting also
