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 a farewell call from Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to ASEAN, H.E. Lee Jang-keun, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the call, Dr. Kao conveyed his appreciation to Ambassador Lee for his dedicati
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a courtesy call by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS), H.E. Busadee Santipitaks, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. They exchanged views on the alignment between the ASEAN Commun
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Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a delegation from the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), a policy research think tank supported by the Government of India. The delegation was led by the Institute’s Director-General, Professor Sachin
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today presided over the Project Closing and Handover Ceremony for the 5-Year Implementation Roadmap – Enhancing Cybersecurity of ASEC’s IT and Network Infrastructure, funded through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), held at the ASEAN Hea
The ASEAN Secretariat Staff Welfare Committee 2025 organised the ASEAN Secretariat Gala Dinner 2025, held on 9 December 2025, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, as part of the ASEC Staff Outing 2025. The event was presided over by Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, and atten
The outgoing Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Cambodia to ASEAN, H.E. Heng Sarith, today paid a farewell call on the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Dr. Kao commended Ambassador Heng Sarith for his steadfast commitment and valuab
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered remarks at the “Experience Japanese Food Culture” event held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Now in its 7th edition, this year’s programme showcased Matcha, the traditional authentic Japanese tea. In his r
Following the Chairmanship Handover Ceremony from Malaysia to the Republic of the Philippines today, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, hosted a year-end Luncheon for the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the Lunche
Today marked a notable milestone for the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) as Malaysia formally handed over the Chairmanship to the Philippines. The transition signifies the start of the Philippines’ preparations to lead ASEAN during its Chairmanship in 2026, building on the C
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will welcome H.E.Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, on 11 December 2025. The visit will include a Policy Speech by H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister
