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 delivered the Keynote Speech at the ASEAN–Japan Symposium: Co-creation in an Era of Geoeconomics, in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he highlighted opportunities to further advance ASEAN–Japan economic cooperation. SG Dr. Kao underscored the import
KUALA LUMPUR, 11 November 2025 — Southeast Asia is undergoing a significant demographic transformation, characterised by rapid declines in fertility, increasing longevity, urbanisation, and rising mobility.
Across the region, population age structures are shifting at different speeds
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Dr. Marty Natalegawa, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia and Founder of the Amity Circle, for a lunch meeting. The Amity Circle comprises of a group of former foreign ministers and other high-level officials from countr
ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for Community and Corporate Affairs, H.E. Nararya Soeprapto, received a courtesy call from Mr. Jurriaan Middelhoff, the Ambassador-at-Large for Youth, Education, and Work of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on 11 November 2025 at the ASEAN Secretariat. The meeting high
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening hosted a farewell dinner in honour of H.E. Kiya Masahiko, the outgoing Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN. On this occasion, both sides exchanged views on ASEAN-Japan relations and ways to further advance ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Pa
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a farewell call from Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, H.E. Kiya Masahiko, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the call, Dr. Kao conveyed appreciation to Ambassador Kiya for his dedication and active efforts in promoting ASEA
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Gordan Grlić Radman, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides exchanged views on further strengthening relations and advancing cooperation between A
Jakarta, 10 November 2025 – The 10th ASEAN-Switzerland Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (AS-JSCC) Meeting, held today at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, underscored the shared commitment to deepen cooperation for mutual benefit.
The Meeting noted the outcomes of the 47th ASE
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, addressed the Opening Ceremony of the 7th ASEAN-Japan Smart Cities Network High-Level Meeting held in Takamatsu City, Japan, on 10 November 2025, via pre-recorded remarks. In his remarks, Dr. Kao highlighted the importance of strengthening integrated u
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered opening remarks via video message at the Inaugural ASEAN-UNFPA Forum on Population Dynamics and Development 2025, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 10–11 November 2025. The Forum, organised by the UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office with
