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 a video message at the briefing session for the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) on the “ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF) Annual Report 2024,” hosted by the Mission of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to ASEAN, in Jakar
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered pre-recorded opening remarks at the ASEAN Training of Trainers Workshop on Safety and Hygiene for Workers and Communities in the Tourism Industry, held in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In his message, Dr. Kao highlighted the critical role of tou
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered pre-recorded remarks at the Official Launch of the ASEAN-IPR Regional Study on Youth, Peace, and Security in ASEAN. In his remarks, Dr. Kao welcomed the launch of the study and highlighted the vital role of youth in contributing to regi
Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, today addressed the inaugural session of the 5th ASEAN India Youth Summit in Goa, India, through pre-recorded remarks, reaffirming ASEAN’s commitment in fostering closer youth collaboration with India so as to promote regional peace, mutual under
Secretary-General of ASEAN H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn delivered pre-recorded remarks at the ASEAN–China Tourism Security and Safety Forum today, emphasizing security and safety as essential foundations for sustainable tourism development. He highlighted ASEAN initiatives such as the ASEAN Tourism
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered remarks via video message at the ASEAN Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Sustainability: “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for a sustainable future for all,” held in Ba
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered a pre-recorded keynote address at the 2025 China Mobile Southeast Asia Cooperation Conference, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 13 August 2025. In his remarks, Dr. Kao shared that ASEAN-China partnership has delivered substantial econ
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered pre-recorded remarks at the ASEAN TVET Conference 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In his video message, SG Dr. Kao reaffirmed his support to advancing ASEAN’s commitment to inclusive and future-ready skills systems. Emphasising the impo
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered the Opening Remarks to formally launch the 6th ASEAN Online Sale Day (AOSD) 2025, as part of the ASEAN Day celebration activities. In his remarks, Dr. Kao underscored that cross-border e-commerce has become an integral part of people‘
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered a video message at the Policy Roundtable and Inception Workshop on Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration, hosted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). In his remarks, he highlighted food security and nutriti
