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
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon participated in the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Meeting, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During the Meeting, ASEAN and GCC Member States reviewed the progress of ASEAN-GCC cooperation
Ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with CNBC Asia to share insights on the region’s robust economic growth and resilience in the context of the current global trade environment. SG Dr Kao highlighted ASEAN’s commitment to deepening economic
In an insightful interview with The Star Media, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, shared his thoughts on the upcoming 46th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, including addressing the key challenges and emerging issues that ASEAN must collectively tackle. SG Dr. Kao
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, delivered pre-recorded remarks at the 2025 Xinjiang Tourism Development Conference held in Kuqa City, Xinjiang, China, on 24-26 May 2025. Dr. Kao emphasised that tourism cooperation between ASEAN and China has flourished significantly, grounded in a lon
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon met with leading media outlets, including CGTN, BERNAMA, TV3, RTM, Reuters, and Kuwait News Agency, ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit and related Summits, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. SG Dr. Kao emphasised ASEAN’s crucial role in addressing
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today attended the 36th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Dr. Kao briefed the Ministers on the progress of ASEAN’s work and key developments in the functions and operations of the ASEAN Secretariat. Final
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered pre-recorded opening and closing remarks for the panel discussion on “The Future I Want to See: Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Initiatives in ASEAN, Japan, and Beyond.” This event, hosted by the ASEAN-Japan Centre at the World Expo 2025
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today attended the 29th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting, in Kuala Lumpur. The Meeting reviewed the implementation of the APSC Blueprint 2025 in its final year and took stock of the progress made by APSC Sectoral Bodies in furth
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered a pre-recorded Special Address at the Opening of the 2025 ASEAN Leadership and Partnership Forum, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 25 May 2025. In his message, Dr. Kao underscored the importance of strengthening ASEAN’s economic integratio
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today attended the SEANWFZ Commission Meeting, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Chaired by Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, the Meeting adopted the Addendum to the SEANWFZ Treaty, paving
