Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered opening remarks via video message at the Inaugural ASEAN-UNFPA Forum on Population Dynamics and Development 2025, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 10–11 November 2025. The Forum, organised by the UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office with support from the ASEAN Secretariat, was conceived as a collaborative platform for ASEAN Member States to share lessons, anticipate policy needs, and strengthen regional cooperation on population dynamics and their implications for sustainable development. In his remarks, SG Dr. Kao urged for strategic shifts, and emphasised prioritising and integrating demographic planning across all pillars. The discussions focused on key thematic areas including fertility and family dynamics, ageing, health and social support systems, migration and mobility, youth, workforce, and intergenerational solidarity. The Forum underscores ASEAN’s commitment to fostering evidence-based, inclusive, and forward-looking research and policies that enable the region to adapt to demographic shifts, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
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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, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.Menu - WHAT WE DO
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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
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