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 July 2026, met with H.E. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, on the sideli
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its Special Meeting 1/2026 from 18 to 21 July 2026 in Manila, Philippines. The Meeting was preceded by the AICHR Assistants’ Meeting held on 17 July 2026. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Georgina Ann Hernandez Yang, Acting C
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in the Retreat Session of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Manila, the Philippines. Chaired by the Chair of AMM 2026 and Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, H
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings in Manila, the Philippines. The meeting marked
I. Background
The Guidelines on the Modalities for Engagement of ASEAN with High Contracting Parties (HCPs) under the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) is proposed to establish modalities of engagement aimed at deepening cooperation with HCPs that do not yet maintain
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, H.E. Nararya S. Soeprapto, delivered remarks at the 15th ASEAN Law Association (ALA) General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand, alongside Hon. Chief Justice Adisak Tantiwong, President of the Supreme Court of Thailand and Chair of A
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today held a pull-aside meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Senator the Honourable Penny Wong, on the margins of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings in Manila, the Philippines. Both sides exchanged
We expressed serious concern over the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, particularly the renewed hostilities involving the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. We are deeply concerned that these developments severely undermine the ongoing efforts of key mediato
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Manila, the Philippines. The Meeting was chaired by the Chair of AMM 2026 and Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Philippines, H.E. Ma. Theresa
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today attended the Opening Ceremony of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), in Manila, the Philippines. The Ceremony marked the commencement of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Post-Ministerial Conferences, and Related Meeting
