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, on 30 September 2026, participated and delivered remarks at the ASEAN Gala Dinner held in conjunction with the Australia–ASEAN Business Forum 2026, in Adelaide, Australia. The dinner brought together senior government representatives, business leader
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered pre-recorded remarks at the 2026 Biodiversity Science Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In his remarks, he highlighted the critical role of science, knowledge, and data in informing biodiversity action and addressing interconnected challenges
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 30 September 2026, gave an interview to InDaily, media partner of the Australia–ASEAN Business Forum 2026, in Adelaide, Australia.
Dr. Kao shared perspectives on deepening ASEAN–Australia economic integration and advancing practical coope
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 30 September 2026, met with Senator Anne Ruston of South Australia, in Adelaide, Australia, on the sidelines of the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum, to exchange views on strengthening ASEAN-Australia cooperation, including in trade and investment, di
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered a pre-recorded message at the ASEAN Law Enforcement High-level Conference on Cooperation in Combatting Criminal Fugitives, held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. In his remarks, Dr. Kao highlighted the importance of effective collabor
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 30 September 2026, met with Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP, Treasurer and Minister for Energy and Mining of South Australia, in Adelaide, Australia, on the sidelines of the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum 2026. They exchanged views on practical cooperation
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered opening remarks at the Australia–ASEAN Energy Leadership Dialogue, held as part of the Australia–ASEAN Business Forum 2026 in Adelaide, Australia, on 30 September 2026. The session discussed shared priorities in energy security and transi
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 29 September 2026, engaged with the ASEAN Committee in Canberra, in Adelaide, Australia, on the sidelines of the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum 2026. Both sides exchanged views on ASEAN-Australia relations, particularly in light of the fifth anniver
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 29 September 2026, met with the Hon. Simon Birmingham, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Banking Association, on the margins of the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum 2026, in Adelaide, Australia. They discussed areas of potential collaboration
Secretary-General, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 29 September 2026, met with the Hon. Joe Szakacs, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport of South Australia, in Adelaide, Australia, on the sidelines of the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum 2026. The meeting discussed opportunities to strengthen ASEAN-Austr
