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
LUANG PRABANG, 5 December 2025 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened the AICHR Workshop on Poverty Eradication and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the context of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Develop
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered a message at the Closing Ceremony of the ASEAN NEXT 2025, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Dr. Kao highlighted that ASEAN is on the path to becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse. Manufacturing now makes up 18% of ASEAN’s GDP, where FDI i
At the invitation of H.E. Dr. Chea Vandeth, Minister of Post and Telecommunications of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will deliver remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the Digital Government Forum (DGF) 2025, to be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 5 December 2
Deputy Secretary-General for Community and Corporate Affairs, H.E. Nararya S. Soeprapto, received H.E. Ambassador Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, during a courtesy call at the ASEAN Secretariat on 4 December 2025. The discussion highlig
BANGKOK, 3 December 2025 – As digital technologies become increasingly embedded in everyday life, online violence against women and girls is one of the fastest-growing forms of Gender-based violence (GBV) across Southeast Asia. To address this urgent and escalating challenge, the ASEAN Commission
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered a video message at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN NEXT 2025, on 3 December 2025. Hosted by Cambodia, this annual forum unites ASEAN Member States and Dialogue Partners to harness the power of infrastructure, technology, and innovation for
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered opening remarks via video message at the 8th ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference (AHP-8) held in Ha Long City, Viet Nam. In his remarks, SG Dr. Kao commended the ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity for their efforts to stren
JAKARTA, 3 December 2025 – The 4th ASEAN-Brazil Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (AB-JSCC) Meeting, held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta today, reaffirmed ASEAN and Brazil’s commitment to strengthening ties and advancing practical cooperation across key areas of m
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered a special address at the opening ceremony of the Cyberjaya Conversations Summit 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was also graced by the high presence of the Honourable Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister
At the invitation of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will participate and deliver remarks at the Closing Ceremony of the ASEAN NEXT 2025, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 4 December 2025. This
