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
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, today hosted a farewell lunch for H.E. Natércia Cipriano Coelho da Silva, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, who will soon conclude her tenure in Jakarta. The occasion served as an acknowledgement of Ambassado
At the invitation of H.E. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines and Chair of ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2026, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn will lead the ASEAN Secretariat’s delegation to participate in the ASEAN Foreign Mini
Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today hosted a working dinner for Secretary General of AIPA, H.E. Dr. Chem Widhya. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening coordination between ASEAN and AIPA, particularly in advancing the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vis
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Ambassador of Sudan to ASEAN, H.E. Yassir Mohamed Ali, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Ambassador Ali briefed Dr. Kao on the recent developments in Sudan. They also exchanged views and explored ways to strengthen the rel
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today held a virtual meeting with Secretary General of the Council of Europe, H.E. Alain Berset. During the meeting, they exchanged views on current global challenges to multilateralism, noted the importance of strengthening regional and multilateral c
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a farewell call from H.E. Natércia Cipriano Coelho da Silva, outgoing Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Dr. Kao commended Ambassador Natércia for h
JAKARTA, 22 January 2026 – Ambassador Sharon Lennon today presented her Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, marking the assumption of her post as the Ambassador of Ireland to ASEAN.
Secretary-Gener
JAKARTA, 22 January 2026 – Ambassador Khalid Jassim Alyassin today presented his Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, officially assuming his role as the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to ASEAN.
SG Dr.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a Courtesy Call from Vice President for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Scott Morris. Their discussion focused on strengthening ASEAN–ADB cooperation, particularly in advancing mutual areas
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening attended a welcoming reception held in honour of the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, H.E. Wang Qing. Dr. Kao delivered remarks at the reception, where he conveyed his warm congratulations to Ambassador Wang on the
