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 joined the President of the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), Professor Mr. LU Chunlong, in unveiling the China-ASEAN School in Beijing, China, which aims to further promoting educational and academic exchanges, fostering mutu
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered a Keynote Address at the Opening Ceremony of the Conference on Exchanges and Mutual Learning on Rule of Law Civilisation at the World Jurists Forum 2026, held in Beijing, China, on 5 July 2026.
Download SG’s full remarks <
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 2 July 2026, met over dinner with H.E. Dato’ Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, on the sidelines of the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to s
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered a closing address at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, highlighting the “Power of ASEAN Conviction” in navigating an increasingly complex regional and global landscape. Dr. Kao underscored ASEAN’s enduri
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today paid a courtesy call on The Honourable Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, on the sidelines of the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Their discussions focused on the implementation of
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with H.E. Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, Chairman of the Southeast Asian Futures Initiative Centre (SEAFIC), on the sidelines of the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both sides exchanged views on strengtheni
At the invitation of the China University of Political Science and Law (“CUPL”), Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will participate and deliver a keynote address at the World Jurists Forum 2026 under the theme “Exchanges and Mutual Learning on Rule of Law Civilisatio
Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, Joint Chairman of the Malaysian Industry–Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT)/ Founding Director of International Institute of Science Diplomacy and Sustainability (IISDS-UC
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening attended a Working Dinner hosted by Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to ASEAN, H.E. Lee Chul. Both sides took the opportunity to exchange views on ASEAN-ROK cooperation, including priorities for 2026, and sought ways to further en
As Chair of the ASEAN Prize Judging Committee Meeting, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn presided over the discussion on the ASEAN Prize, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
Together with the ASEAN Prize Judging Committee members, they discussed the future approach
