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
JAKARTA, 27 June 2026 – On the occasion of International MSME Day 2026, ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as key drivers to economic growth, innovation, and resilience in the region. Through the European Union (EU)-ASEAN Sustainable Conn
Singapore, 26 June 2026 – The 41st ASEAN-Japan Forum in Singapore reaffirmed the commitment of ASEAN and Japan to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and supporting the implementation of&n
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22) in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Themed “Advancing the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) for a Resilient, Su
The 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22) was held on 26 June 2026, in Vientiane, Lao PDR, themed “Advancing ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) for a Resilient, Sustainable and Competitive ASEAN.”
The Meeting was c
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22), along with H.E. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thongsalith Mangnormek, Chair of AMMSTI 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister o
HA NOI, 26 June 2026 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened the Workshop on Raising Awareness and Sharing Best Practices on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at Sea on 26 June 2026 in Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Ambassador Nguyen
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 25 June 2026, delivered remarks at the Gala Dinner of the 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22), hosted by H.E. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thongsalith Mangnormek, Chair of AMMSTI 2026, in Vientiane, Lao PDR.In his re
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with H.E. Dato Seri Paduka Mohd Riza, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications of Brunei Darussalam, on the sidelines of the 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22), in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Dr. Kao thanke
JAKARTA, 25 June 2026 – The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Research and Development Platform on Care Economy held a forum titled “Promoting Innovations and Best Practices for Future ASEAN Collaborations in the Care Economy”. The forum served as a platform for authors of an upcoming Fla
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with H.E. Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia, on the sidelines of the 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22), in Vientiane, Lao PDR.Dr. Kao congratulated Malays
