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 participated in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings (AMM) held in Cebu, the Philippines. Chaired by Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines and Chair of AMM for 2026, H.E Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, the Meeting focused on p
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening attended the Welcome Dinner, hosted by H.E. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines and Chair of ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2026.
The event was held ahead of a series of ministerial meetings le
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Corporate and Community Affairs, H.E. Nararya Soeprapto, received Deputy Secretary-General of the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat, Liang Yiguang, during a courtesy call at the ASEAN Secretariat. They discussed preparations for the 23rd CAEXPO on 17–21 September
The 29th ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM+3) took place on 3 May 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan under the Co-Chairship of H.E. Joven Z. Balbosa, Undersecretary of the Department of Finance of the Philippines, H.E. Rosalia V. De Leon, Monetary Board Member
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Mission of the Russian Federation to ASEAN, Andrey Yudin, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on cooperation under t
In an exclusive interview with Voice of Vietnam (VOV) today, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, highlighted the measures being taken to safeguard regional energy and food security ahead of the 48th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines this week.
Dr. Kao emphasised the importance of th
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today had a meeting with Chief of Local Diplomacy of Governors Association of the Republic of Korea (GAROK), H.E. Lee Jang-keun, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting underscored the importance of local governments in advancing ASEAN
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met bilaterally with H.E. Thongsavan Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the bilateral meeting, both sides discussed preparations for the 48th ASEAN
H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, today received H.E. Thongsavan Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Upon his arrival, H.E. Thongsavan Phomvihane was rec
JAKARTA 4-5 May 2026 – ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of women and of children to realise a secure and empowered future for all during the 32nd Meeting of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).
