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 held a virtual meeting with Minister of State for Indo-Pacific in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the United Kingdom Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP earlier today. They exchanged views on the recent developments in ASEAN and the UK fo
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn received a courtesy call by a delegation of the Delhi Policy Group headed by Ambassador Hemant Krishan Singh, I.F.S. (Retd.) today. They exchanged views on the recent developments in ASEAN and India including the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn joined the ASEAN Secretariat’s Halal Bihalal Staff Gathering. To open the gathering, Dr Kao delivered a meaningful and encouraging remark before being introduced to the Staff Welfare Committee of 2023 as well as the various ASEAN Secretariat’s
This evening, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn met with Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN Hou Yanqi over a working dinner. They discussed a potential follow-up to Dr Kao’s working visit to China in March 2023 and exchanged views on the latest developments in ASEAN
Today at the ASEAN Secretariat, Ambassador of Australia to ASEAN Will Nankervis briefed Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn on the preparations for the upcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit to be held in Sydney, Australia on 24 May. They also exchanged views on the ASEAN-Australia relations.
Ambassador of Finland to ASEAN Jukka-Pekka Kaihilahti presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn at the ASEAN Secretariat today. They exchanged views on ways to strengthen relations between ASEAN and Finland and looked forward to advance cooperation in areas of mut
Ambassador of Canada to ASEAN Vicky Singmin hosted a working lunch for Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn at the Langham Hotel in Jakarta today. They exchanged views on several areas of cooperation that contributed to the strengthening and expansion of the ASEAN-Canada relations.
On 16 May, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn received a courtesy visit from Ahmed Jamal Khan, Regional Representative for South and Southeast Asia, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the ASEAN Secretariat. They explored possibilities of working together to provide transformative solutio
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn today received a courtesy call from Hong Kong–ASEAN Foundation CEO Charles Chia today. They discussed potential collaboration in the areas of education and youth, culture and arts as well as other areas that would further promote greater interest and un
This afternoon, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn participated in an interface session at the 7th Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN. In his first interface with the ASEAN Centres and Entities, Dr Kao encouraged active contribution and mutual collaboration among entities to advance A
