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 met with Dr. Marty Natalegawa, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia and Founder of the Amity Circle, for a lunch meeting. The Amity Circle comprises of a group of former foreign ministers and other high-level officials from countr
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening hosted a farewell dinner in honour of H.E. Kiya Masahiko, the outgoing Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN. On this occasion, both sides exchanged views on ASEAN-Japan relations and ways to further advance ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Pa
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a farewell call from Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, H.E. Kiya Masahiko, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the call, Dr. Kao conveyed appreciation to Ambassador Kiya for his dedication and active efforts in promoting ASEA
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Gordan Grlić Radman, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides exchanged views on further strengthening relations and advancing cooperation between A
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today opened the 9th ASEAN Media Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In his Opening Remarks, Dr. Kao noted the key role played by the media in conveying the ASEAN story and narrative to the ASEAN people as well as to international audiences. He encouraged
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today engaged in an interface session with regional media prior the Opening of the 9th ASEAN Media Forum held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During this interactive session, Dr. Kao shared insights on ASEAN’s major milestones and key deliverables achieve
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today attended the Startup ASEAN Summit 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, alongside H.E. Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia. Dr. Kao delivered a Special Keynote Remarks on “The Vision of a Borderless Economy.”
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will participate in the 9th ASEAN Media Forum, to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 6 November 2025. During the forum, Dr. Kao will engage in an interface session with the media, featuring a candid discussion on ASEAN’s key achievements under Mal
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today attended the Opening Ceremony of the Festival of Ideas (FOI) and the ASEAN Higher Education Leadership Forum (ASHELF) 2025, held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, alongside H.E. Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, an
At the invitation of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will participate in the Startup ASEAN Summit 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 5 November 2025, where he will deliver Special Keynote Remarks and join The Honourable
