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 evening attended the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America as the Guest of Honour, at the residence of the United States Ambassador to Indonesia in Jakarta.
In his remarks, Secretary-Genera
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Associate Vice-President of University of Hong Kong, Prof. Tang Heiwai, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides exchanged views on potential avenues for cooperation between ASEAN and Hong Kong, China, particularly in
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon met with H.E. Christopher Landau, the United States’ Deputy Secretary of State, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides discussed ways to further advance the ASEAN-United States Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Ms. Keiko Miwa, Division Director for Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, at the ASEAN Headquarters /
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Vice President of Huawei Asia Pacific, Mr. Peter Pan Junfeng, at the ASEAN Headquarters / ASEAN Secretariat. During the meeting, Huawei expressed its appreciation to the ASEAN Secretariat for the strong relationship and meaningful engage
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) held their 33rd Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) Meeting on Thursday, 11 June 2026 in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia.
ASEAN and the EU reviewed recent developments in their respective regions since the last JCC
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a courtesy call from H.E. Sheikh Abdul Karim Harelimana, Ambassador of Rwanda to the Republic of Indonesia, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides exchanged views on ways to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and Rwanda.&
JAKARTA, 11 June 2026 – The Ambassador of the United States of America to ASEAN, H.E. Kevin Kim, today presented his Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
Secretary-General Dr. Kao congratulated Ambassador Kim
