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 25th ASEAN Economic Ministers-Ministry of Commerce (AEM-MOFCOM) Consultation, in Manila, the Philippines.
The Meeting discussed the preparations for the entry into force of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (A
The Twenty Fifth ASEAN Economic Ministers-Ministry of Commerce (AEM-MOFCOM) Consultation was held on 21 September 2026 in Manila, Philippines. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Ma. Cristina A. Roque, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines and H.E. Yan Dong, Vice
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the 31st ASEAN Economic Ministers–Closer Economic Relations (AEM-CER) Consultation held in Manila, the Philippines.
The Meeting discussed the implementation of the upgraded AANZFTA as a cornerstone of ASEAN-CE
The Thirty-First ASEAN Economic Ministers-Closer Economic Relations (AEM-CER) Consultation was held on 21 September 2026 in Manila, Philippines. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Ma. Cristina A. Roque, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines; the Honourable Matt T
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered pre-recorded remarks at the Inauguration of the China-ASEAN School and the ceremony welcoming the first batch of students of the China University of Political Science and Law Hainan International School. He highlighted the School’s im
Secretary-General of ASEAN. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with H.E. Daniiar Imanaliev, Member of the Board (Minister) for Integration and Macroeconomics, Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), on the sideline of the 58th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting, in Manila, the Philippines. They exchan
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 20 September 2026, attended the USABC Exclusive Ministerial Dinner with ASEAN Economic Ministers, held on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings in Manila, the Philippines. The ASEAN Economic Ministers, th
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the 5th AEM Troika Open-Ended Dialogue with Switzerland held in Manila, the Philippines.
The Meeting discussed the economic cooperation between ASEAN and Switzerland, including the progress made towards finalisi
The Fifth ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Troika Open-ended Dialogue with Switzerland was held on 20 September 2026 in Manila, Philippines. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Ma. Cristina A. Roque, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines and H.E. State Secretary Hel
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the AEM-USTR Consultation held in Manila, the Philippines.
The Meeting discussed the economic cooperation between ASEAN and the United States, including the progress of the implementation of the 2025-2026 ASEAN-
