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 participated in the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Japan, in Manila, the Philippines. The Meeting reviewed the progress of ASEAN-Japan cooperation and discussed its future direction. The Ministers focused on advancing the ASEAN-Japan Compr
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) with China, in Manila, the Philippines. The Meeting reviewed progress under the ASEAN–China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), discussed its future direction, and exchanged view
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 21 July 2026, had an informal exchange with the Secretary of State of the United States of America, Marco A. Rubio, on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings, in Manila, the Philippines. They acknowled
The ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Canada was held in Manila today. The Meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of both sides to further strengthening the Strategic Partnership, and adopted the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership (2026-2030).
The Meeti
A Trilateral Meeting involving the ASEAN Chair, the Philippines, Türkiye, and the ASEAN Secretariat was convened in Manila today. The Meeting was chaired by the Undersecretary for Policy and Philippine ASEAN SOM Leader, Leo M. Herrera-Lim, and attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the United States, in Manila, the Philippines. The Meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of ASEAN and the United States to strengthening cooperation in support of regional peace, stabil
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered pre-recorded remarks at the ASEAN–China Tourism Dialogue, in Langkawi, Malaysia, on 22 July 2026. SG Dr. Kao underscored the strong recovery of ASEAN–China tourism as well as the shared commitment to building a resilient, sustainable, and
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, The Honourable Anita Anand, on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings in Manila, the Philippines. Both sides reaffirmed thei
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with India, in Manila, the Philippines. The Meeting reaffirmed ASEAN and India’ commitment to further deepening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and noted with satisfaction
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on the evening of 21 July 2026, attended the Gala Dinner for the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings, hosted by H.E. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Chair of ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2026 and Secretary of Foreign Affairs o
