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
H.E. San Lwin, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, received H.E. Lee Chul, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to ASEAN, at the ASEAN Secretariat for an introductory meeting. The meeting focused on ongoing cooperation and future collaboration in socio-cul
PENANG, 12 – 14 May 2026 – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) are strengthening cooperation to advance workforce readiness and skills development across Southeast Asia through the Closing the Gap Workshop 2026, taking place from 12–14 May 2026 in Pe
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 12 May 2026, delivered pre-recorded remarks at the 2026 World Digital Education Conference, held in Hangzhou, China. In his remarks, Dr. Kao emphasised the region’s collective efforts to leverage digital innovation and artificial intelligenc
JAKARTA, 12 May 2026 — The 10th Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN commenced today in Jakarta, gathering parliamentarians, judiciaries, think tanks, civil society organisations, and business entities. Held under the theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” the two-day Forum commemorates
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), H.E. San Lwin, received a courtesy call by Dr. (H.C.) Fahad Attamimi, Special Advisor to the Minister of Village and Development of Disadvantaged Region Republic of Indonesia, at the ASEAN Headquarters.
The
JAKARTA 4-5 May 2026 – ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of women and of children to realise a secure and empowered future for all during the 32nd Meeting of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).
Bangkok, 28 April 2026– The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) brought together more than 70 representatives from across the region and Europe in Bangkok on 27–28 April to explore how cities can put human rights at the centre of urban development.
The Regional Foru
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today warmly welcomed the visit by the Vice President, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of Switzerland, Guy Parmelin, at the ASEAN Headquarter/ASEAN Secretariat. They exchanged views on t
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined other Ministers from ASEAN Member States and that of Dialogue Partners of ASEAN in the 4th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministers’ Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Meeting underscored the importance of dee
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered pre-recorded remarks for the Introductory Dialogue among the Five ASEAN Dialogue Partner Centres held in Osaka, Japan. In his message, Dr. Kao underscored the importance of broader cooperation among the Centres, emphasising how coordina
