Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Kao Kim Hourn, opened the 8th Forum of Entities associated with ASEAN at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat today. Dr. Kao highlighted that the role of the ASEAN Entities is becoming more critical in seizing the opportunities and transforming the challenges into real opportunities, and he expressed optimism that the Forum would continue to serve as a platform for fruitful discussions, collaboration, and cooperation, as well as the exchange of ideas between various stakeholders listed in the ASEAN Charter. The Forum, which attracted more than ninety participants representing around forty entities and centres associated with ASEAN, also gave the floor to the Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, outlining Lao PDR’s Chairmanship objectives and priorities, as well as engaged in an interactive discussion with two Deputy Secretaries-General of ASEAN for Political Security Community Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz and for Community and Corporate Affairs Nararya Soeprapto.