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, delivered pre-recorded remarks at the 2025 ASEAN–China Greater Bay Area Economic Cooperation Forum in Shenzen, China. In his remark, Dr. Kao highlighted the strong ASEAN–China economic partnership and underscored the importance of the ASEAN-China F
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening attended the dinner hosted by the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development in Manila, the Philippines. The welcome dinner provided an opportunity for the incoming ASCC Council Chair, the Secretary-General of ASEAN an
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with H.E. Rex Gatchalian, Secretary of Social Welfare and Development of the Republic of the Philippines and incoming Chair of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council, in Manila, the Philippines. They exchanged views on priorities
As part of his Working Visit to the Republic of the Philippines, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today paid a Courtesy Call on H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines. They discussed key priorities and deliverables as the Philippines prepares to cha
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the lunch hosted by H.E. Allan B. Gepty, Underscretary for International Trade Group, Department of Trade and Industry of the Republic of the Philippines, in Manila. They continued their discussions on the key Priority Economic Deliverables (P
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Undersecretary for International Trade Group, Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, H.E. Allan B. Gepty, in Manila, as part of his Working Visit to the Republic of the Philippines.
They discussed preparations fo
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Ambassador of Mongolia to ASEAN, H.E. Enkhtaivan Dashnyam, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides took the opportunity to exchange views on ASEAN-Mongolia relations. Ambassador Enkhtaivan affirmed Mongolia’s commi
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received the Senior Minister in Charge of Special Missions, First Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Chair of ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management 2025, H.E. Kitte S
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Thailand to ASEAN, Dr. Suwit Mangkhala, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. They discussed relevant issues pertaining to ASEAN Community-building and regional inte
JAKARTA, 25 November 2025 – Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to ASEAN, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, today presented his Letter of Credence (LOC) to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
Secretary-General Dr. Kao congratu
