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 a delegation from Guangxi Zishan Mining Co., Ltd., at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The discussion highlighted the company’s interest in strengthening China–ASEAN cooperation in sustainable mineral resources and energy
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a farewell call from the outgoing Ambassador of Switzerland to ASEAN, H.E. Olivier Zehnder, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the call, Dr. Kao appreciated Ambassador Zehnder’s efforts in strengthening the ASEAN-Switz
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a farewell call from the outgoing Ambassador of Belgium to ASEAN, H.E. Frank Leon L. Felix, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat. During the call, Dr. Kao commended Ambassador Felix for his contributions to advancing cooperation
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon officiated the Opening Ceremony of the Fifth ASEAN Junior Fellowship Programme (AJFP) with the ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat. The four-week programme, running from 27 July to 21 August 2026, is generously supported by Brunei Darus
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today welcomed the President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Professor Tetsuya Watanabe, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides discussed ongoing collaboration to support ASEAN’s economic integra
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today briefed the diplomatic corps and the media, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, on the key outcomes of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), Post-Ministerial Conferences (PMC), 27th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meet
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will participate in the 10th ASEAN Media Forum (AMF), to be held in Manila, the Philippines, on 29-30 July 2026.
Marking a decade of fostering a regional dialogue, the AMF serves as a key platform connecting regional media leaders and chief edit
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the High-Level Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), in Manila, the Philippines, as part of the commemorative activities marking the Treaty’s 50th anniversary.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Hon. Vijitha Herath, M.P., in Manila, Philippines, on the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity an
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Waleed Elkhereji, on the sidelines of the High-Level Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), i
