JAKARTA, 12 May 2026 — The 10th Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN commenced today in Jakarta, gathering parliamentarians, judiciaries, think tanks, civil society organisations, and business entities. Held under the theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” the two-day Forum commemorates a decade of engagement between the ASEAN Secretariat and various entities associated with ASEAN, while setting a strategic compass for the region’s 2045 vision.
The forum was officially inaugurated with an opening statement by Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN. In his remarks, the Secretary-General expressed confidence in the outcomes of the Forum, “I am confident that the discussions, exchanges, and partnerships that emerge from these two days will be both meaningful and enduring. I look forward to the conversations ahead with great anticipation, and I trust that each of you will bring your fullest energy, expertise, and commitment to this Forum.”
The first day featured high-level plenary sessions, including a strategic dialogue on navigating the current geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape. A dedicated session also focused on Timor-Leste’s transition from admission to integration, highlighting the strengthening partnership between Timor-Leste and ASEAN entities. Participants actively engaged in the panel session titled “From Vision to Action,” which brought together various ASEAN Centres and entities to discuss their respective contributions toward advancing the ASEAN community-building goals. The day also featured a “Kaleidoscope” session reflecting on the past decade of engagement, with leadership of various ASEAN entities in attendance.
The second day focused on practical implementation and future-ready skills through several concurrent sideline events. A comprehensive Project Proposal Workshop provided approximately 100 participants from ASEAN Centres with technical briefings on funding mechanisms, including the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), and the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund (ACCF).
Simultaneously, the forum emphasised youth empowerment through the 2nd AIPA ConNEXT and a youth-focused collaboration program hosted by the ASEAN Foundation and supported by Huawei. These events brought together hundreds of students and teachers to discuss the future of regional cooperation.
The 10th ASEAN Entities Forum concluded with a shared commitment to a unified and resilient regional future. Throughout the event, participants also explored a special exhibition at the ASEAN Secretariat’s new lobby showcasing the diverse work of ASEAN’s Centres and Entities.
