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 29 September 2026, met with Mr. Bran Black, Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia, on the sidelines of the Australia–ASEAN Business Forum 2026, in Adelaide, Australia. They exchanged views on strengthening ASEAN–Australia private-
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 29 September 2026, met with the Hon. Chris Picton MP, Minister for State Development and Minister for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy South Australia, in Adelaide, Australia, on the sidelines of the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum 202
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 29 September 2026, delivered keynote remarks at the Australia–ASEAN Business Forum 2026 in Adelaide, Australia, under the theme “Deepening Australia–ASEAN Economic Integration in a Changing Global Landscape.” In his remarks, Dr. Kao undersco
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 28 September 2026, attended a Working Dinner, hosted by Mr. Francis Wong OAM, Chairman of Australia-ASEAN Business Forum, prior to the start of Australia–ASEAN Business Forum 2026, on 29 September 2026, in Adelaide, Australia. The dinner provided
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 28 September 2026, delivered remarks at the Welcome Reception of the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum (AABF) 2026, at the Government House, Adelaide, Australia. The Reception, hosted by The Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, m
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 28 September 2026, met with Governor of South Australia, The Honourable Frances Adamson AC, on the sidelines of his participation in the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum (AABF) 2026, in Adelaide, Australia, prior to the Welcome Reception of the Austra
The Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community (DSG APSC), H.E. Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz participated in the 7th ASEAN Workshop on Intersection between Conflict and Human Rights, held on 28 September 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. DSG APSC shared the ASEAN Secretar
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 27 September 2026, visited the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which hosts one of the most prominent collections of Southeast Asian art in Australia, featuring classical textiles, sculptures, ceramics, and cutting-edge contemporary visual arts. The
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 27 September 2026, met with The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, in Sydney, Australia, on the sidelines of the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum 2026.
SG Dr. Kao and Governor Beazley discussed the growing links bet
At the invitation of Mr. Francis Wong OAM, Chairman of Australia-ASEAN Business Forum, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will participate in the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum 2026, to be held in Adelaide, Australia, on 29-30 September 2026. During the Forum, Dr. Kao will deliver keynot
