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, today met with a delegation from Guangxi Zishan Mining Co., Ltd., at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The discussion highlighted the company’s interest in strengthening China–ASEAN cooperation in sustainable mineral resources and energy
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a farewell call from the outgoing Ambassador of Switzerland to ASEAN, H.E. Olivier Zehnder, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the call, Dr. Kao appreciated Ambassador Zehnder’s efforts in strengthening the ASEAN-Switz
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a farewell call from the outgoing Ambassador of Belgium to ASEAN, H.E. Frank Leon L. Felix, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat. During the call, Dr. Kao commended Ambassador Felix for his contributions to advancing cooperation
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon officiated the Opening Ceremony of the Fifth ASEAN Junior Fellowship Programme (AJFP) with the ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat. The four-week programme, running from 27 July to 21 August 2026, is generously supported by Brunei Darus
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today welcomed the President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Professor Tetsuya Watanabe, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides discussed ongoing collaboration to support ASEAN’s economic integra
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today briefed the diplomatic corps and the media, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, on the key outcomes of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), Post-Ministerial Conferences (PMC), 27th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meet
