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 received a farewell call from H.E. Natércia Cipriano Coelho da Silva, outgoing Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Dr. Kao commended Ambassador Natércia for h
JAKARTA, 22 January 2026 – Ambassador Sharon Lennon today presented her Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, marking the assumption of her post as the Ambassador of Ireland to ASEAN.
Secretary-Gener
JAKARTA, 22 January 2026 – Ambassador Khalid Jassim Alyassin today presented his Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, officially assuming his role as the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to ASEAN.
SG Dr.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a Courtesy Call from Vice President for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Scott Morris. Their discussion focused on strengthening ASEAN–ADB cooperation, particularly in advancing mutual areas
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening attended a welcoming reception held in honour of the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, H.E. Wang Qing. Dr. Kao delivered remarks at the reception, where he conveyed his warm congratulations to Ambassador Wang on the
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today convened the annual town hall meeting with staff members of the ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat. Organised by the ASEAN Secretariat Staff Welfare Committee, the session provided a platform for an open dialogue between the Secretary-General
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Director-General for ASEAN Cooperation and SOM Leader of ASEAN-Indonesia, H.E. Ina H. Krisnamurthi, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. They exchanged views on ASEAN Community-building and priorities for 2026 under the Philippin
JAKARTA, 21 January 2026 – His Excellency Ramil Rzayev presented his Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat today, officially assuming his role as the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to ASEAN.
Secretary-
JAKARTA, 20 January 2026 – Ambassador Wang Qing presented his Letter of Credence as the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
Secretary-General Dr. Kao co
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a courtesy call from Secretary-General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), H.E. Kairat Sarybay, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the meeting, both Secretaries-General excha
