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
At the invitation of Neak Oknha Kith Meng, President of Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and Chair of ASEAN Business Advisory Council Cambodia, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will lead the ASEAN Secretariat’s delegation to participate in the Cambodia-ASEAN Business Summit 2026 (CABS
JAKARTA, 27 February 2026 – The “Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development (QuISP)” course officially commenced with an online kick-off workshop from 23-26 February 2026. This year’s cohorts brought together young professionals from across ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secr
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its 42nd Meeting on 24 to 27 February 2026, in Manila, Philippines. The Meeting was preceded by a parallel AICHR Representatives’ Retreat and AICHR Assistants’ Meeting. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Severo S. Catura, Rep
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, Mr. Crisogno Leandro de Araújo, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. They discussed matters relating to the work of
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a Courtesy Call from President of the India Foundation, Ram Madhav, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides discussed the ongoing and future cooperation under the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), and
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received the new President and Chair of the Board of Directors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Zou Jiayi, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides exchanged views on strengthening cooperation supporting priorities o
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening attended a dinner hosted in his honour by Ambassador of the Republic of India to ASEAN, Srinivas Gotru. The dinner provided an opportunity for continued engagement and dialogue, reaffirming the shared commitment to further strengthening AS
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today officiated the graduation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Attachment Officers at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, marking the successful completion of the one-year programme by 15 officers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, V
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered pre-recorded remarks at the ASEAN Editors & Economic Opinion Leaders Forum in Makati, the Philippines. In his remarks, SG Dr. Kao underscored the vital role of editors, journalists, and economic opinion leaders in shaping public discourse
On this day, we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), which was signed on 24 February 1976 in Bali, Indonesia during the first ASEAN Summit.
We reaffirm the importance and relevance of the TAC as a foundational code
