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 attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat), held in Cebu, the Philippines. Chaired by the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Chair of AMM 2026, H.E. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, the Retreat discussed ASEAN’s prioritie
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening attended the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026, held in Cebu, the Philippines. The event was attended by the First Lady of the Philippines, the Honourable Liza Araneta Marcos, and the Secretary of Tourism of the Philippines,
Manila City, Philippines, 27–28 January 2026 – The 1st Regional Consultation with ASCC Sectoral Bodies on the Baselining and Target-Setting for the ASCC Results Framework was held on 27–28 January 2026 in Manila City, Philippines, and via video conference. The 1st Regional Consultation broug
Today, the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting took place in Cebu, the Philippines, in preparation for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat.
The Meeting discussed the Philippines’ Chairship priorities and deliverables to advance ASEAN Community-building and strengthen ASEAN’s external r
Since its establishment in 2013, the ASEAN Youth Organization (AYO) has actively promoted greater understanding and awareness of ASEAN, and has helped advance regional integration through youth development and engagement across the region. Its contribution in fostering cross-cultural collaborations
The Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, H.E. Nararya S Soeprapto, met the Minister for Home Affairs of Australia, the Honourable Tony Burke MP, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat today. The meeting reaffirmed the long-standing ASEAN–Australia partnershi
At the invitation of H.E. Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco, Secretary of Tourism of the Republic of the Philippines, Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will participate and deliver remarks in the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026, in Cebu, the Philippine
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, H.E. Nararya S. Soeprapto, received Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Security Policy and Public Diplomacy, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Mr. Robert T. Koepcke, at the ASEAN Secretaria
JAKARTA, 27 January 2026 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened the 2nd ASEAN Dialogue on Human Rights and Policing from 26–27 January 2026 at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, held in a hybrid format.
The Dialogue brought together 54 participants f
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with H.E. Henrique Archanjo Ferraro, Ambassador of Brazil to ASEAN, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. They discussed ways and means to enhance ASEAN-Brazil cooperation in areas of mutual interests in line with the ASEAN-Brazil Sect
