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, today met with H.E. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thongsalith Mangnormek, Chair of ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI) 2026 and Minister of Education and Sports of Lao PDR, on the sidelines of the 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
The Fourteenth Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution in the Mekong Sub-Region (14th MSC Mekong) was held on 25 June 2026 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Meeting was graced by the Honourable Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republ
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered a pre-recorded keynote address at the ASEAN-Australia Track 1.5 Dialogue held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, on 25 June 2026. Marking the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Dr. Kao high
The 5th DGICM + 3 Consultation was held in Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia,
on 25 June 2026. The Consultation was co-chaired by His Excellency Police
Lieutenant General Sok Veasna, Director General of the General Department
of Immigration, Ministry of Interior, Kingdom of Cambodia and Her Excelle
The 29th ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of
Consular Affairs Divisions of Ministries of Foreign Affairs Meeting (DGICM) and Its
Related Meetings were held from 24 to 25 June 2026 in Siem Reap, Kingdom of
Cambodia. The Meeting was chaired by His Excellency Lieutenant
JAKARTA, 24 June 2026 – Ambassador Dimitrios Michalopoulos presented his Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat today, marking the assumption of his post as the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to ASEAN.
Secre
On 24 June 2026, the 51st Meeting of the ASEAN Audit Committee (AAC) was convened at the ASEAN Secretariat Headquarters in Jakarta. Held under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship, the meeting addressed key issues related to internal and external audit, risk management, and governance of the ASEAN
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today bade farewell to the outgoing Ambassador of Hungary to ASEAN, H.E. Lilla Karsay. During the call, Dr. Kao appreciated Ambassador Karsay’s efforts in promoting relations between ASEAN and Hungary and looked forward to working closely with Ambass
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received the Director- General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Dr. Yvonne Pinto, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. SG Dr. Kao appreciated IRRI’s 65-year legacy of supporting regional food security and discussed t
JAKARTA, 24 June 2026 – Senior Officials of ASEAN and Canada reaffirmed their commitment to further advancing ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership at the 23rd ASEAN-Canada Dialogue held today at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
Canada reiterated its support for ASEAN Community-
