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, this evening hosted a farewell dinner in honour of H.E. Ambassador Aung Myo Myint, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to ASEAN, who will soon conclude his tenure in Jakarta. The occasion provided an opportunity t
At the invitation of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will lead the ASEAN Secretariat’s delegation to participate in the 2nd ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave (2nd AIWSC), to be h
H.E. Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Political-Security Community, received a courtesy call from the H.E. Bernardo Brea Rodríguez, Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to Indonesia at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat today. They noted Panama’
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered pre-recorded remarks at the PROPEL – ASEAN Digital Leadership Forum and the Official Launch of the ASEAN CXO Association on 7 July 2026 in Singapore. In his remarks, Dr. Kao highlighted several key priorities for advancing ASEAN’s digita
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening attended the welcoming reception for the newly appointed United States Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Kevin Kim, at the Residence of the United States Ambassador to ASEAN, in Jakarta. In his remarks, Dr. Kao welcomed Ambassador K
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a farewell call from the outgoing Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to ASEAN, H.E. Aung Myo Myint, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Dr. Kao expressed his appreciation for Ambassador Aung
SEOUL, 7 July 2026 – Senior Officials of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea (ROK) reaffirmed their commitment to further advancing the ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) at the 30th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue, held in Seoul today.
The Meeting reviewed progress in the implementation o
The 21st DGICM + Australia Consultation was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on
25 June 2026. The 21st DGICM + Australia was co-chaired by Mr. Hendarsam
Marantoko, Director-General of Immigration, Ministry of Immigration and
Corrections of the Republic of Indonesia, and Mr. Damien Kilner, First Assis
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with the Vice Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Ren Youqun, on the sidelines of the World Jurists Forum 2026 in Beijing, China. They exchanged views on advancing ASEAN–China cooperation in education, including streng
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today visited the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), in Beijing, China. During the visit, SG Dr. Kao was received by Professor Jiang Zeting, Chair of CUPL, and Mr. Lu Chunlong, President of CUPL, where they exchanged views on law and
