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, on 14 February 2026, held a dinner meeting with President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Professor Tetsuya Watanabe, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany. They discussed about ASEAN&
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, at the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany. During the meeting, Grand Chancellor Riccardo di Montecupo expressed
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 14 February 2026, held a bilateral meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, H.E. Andrii Sybiha, on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany. Both sides discussed ways to promote cooperation between ASEAN and
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 14 February 2026, met with H.E. Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany. They exchanged perspectives on de
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 13 February 2026, gave a video interview for DW-TV, on the sidelines of the 62nd Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany. During the interview, Dr. Kao underscored the importance of strengthening strategic trust in advancing peace and security
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 13 February 2026, participated in the Spotlight on Maritime Security, at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany. SG Dr. Kao highlighted that for regions like Southeast Asia and Europe, shaped by the sea, maritime security is ins
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 13 February 2026, held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, H.E. Florian Hahn, on the margins of his participation in the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany. Both sides exchanged views
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 13 February 2026, met with H.E. Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany, on the sidelines of his participation in the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany. They exc
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 13 February 2026, attended the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2026 Roundtable on “Power Couples: Trade and Green Energy Cooperation Between Europe and the Global South.” During the session, Dr. Kao outlined ASEAN’s regional energy transition
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 10 February 2026, met with the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Yvette Cooper MP, in London. Both sides exchanged views on ASEAN-UK relations and sought ways to further strengthen the ASEAN-UK
