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, on 21 September 2026, attended the Gala Dinner of the 58th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting, in Manila, the Philippines. The event highlighted the Philippines’ cultural heritage and the Chair’s priorities under the theme “Navigating Our Future
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined Ministers from ASEAN Member States, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea for the 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministers’ Meeting held in Manila, the Philippines.
The Mee
ASEAN alongside Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea gathered in Manila on 21 September 2026 for the Fifth RCEP Ministers’ Meeting. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Diah Roro Esti Widya Putri, Vice Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia and the Honourable Dr.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined the Economic Ministers from ASEAN, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea for the 29th AEM-Plus Three (APT) Consultation in Manila, the Philippines.
The Consultation welcomed the progress in impleme
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting held in Manila, the Philippines.
The Meeting exchanged views on the global and regional economic outlook and discussed ways EAS participating countries can work
The Fourteenth East Asia Summit (EAS) Economic Ministers’ Meeting was held on 21 September 2026 in Manila, Philippines. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Ma. Cristina A. Roque, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines.The Meeting noted that based on ASEAN’s preliminary
At the invitation of H.E. Vongsey Vissoth, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the International Conference on Combating Online Scams, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. K
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the 25th ASEAN Economic Ministers-Ministry of Commerce (AEM-MOFCOM) Consultation, in Manila, the Philippines.
The Meeting discussed the preparations for the entry into force of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (A
The Twenty Fifth ASEAN Economic Ministers-Ministry of Commerce (AEM-MOFCOM) Consultation was held on 21 September 2026 in Manila, Philippines. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Ma. Cristina A. Roque, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines and H.E. Yan Dong, Vice
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the 31st ASEAN Economic Ministers–Closer Economic Relations (AEM-CER) Consultation held in Manila, the Philippines.
The Meeting discussed the implementation of the upgraded AANZFTA as a cornerstone of ASEAN-CE
