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 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
At the invitation of H.E. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thongsalith Mangnormek, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, will lead the ASEAN Secretariat’s delegation to participate in the 22nd
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening attended a working dinner hosted by the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to ASEAN, H.E. Prof. Dr. Talip Küçükcan, in Jakarta. Both sides exchanged views on ASEAN–Türkiye cooperation and discussed ways to further enhance the ASE
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered opening remarks at the inaugural ASEAN–Canada Strategic Dialogue, held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Focusing on the theme “Energy Security in ASEAN – Energy Transition for a Resilient Future,” the event b
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered remarks at the Meeting between the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Ambassadors of ERIA Member States, and Dialogue Partners, held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
In his remarks, Dr. K
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The discussion highlighted ongoing engagement and exchanged views on future
JAKARTA, 23 June 2026 – Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to ASEAN, H.E. Sashikala Premawardhane, presented her Letter of Credence (LOC) to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, today.
Secretary-Genera
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Aus4ASEAN Alumni Dialogue, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat. Held in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), the Di
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered remarks at the 19th Governing Board Meeting of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
In his remarks, Dr. Kao underscored the indispensab
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today held an online meeting today, with Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) President, Ms. Susan B. Afan, and RMAF Trustee Ambassador, H.E. Delia D. Albert. The meeting explored plans for a documentary film to showcase ASEAN’s achievements and c
