At the invitation of the Government of Malaysia, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn will lead the ASEAN Secretariat delegation to participate in the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment (AMME-18), 20th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (COP-20 AATHP) and related meetings, scheduled to be held in Langkawi, Malaysia, on 3–4 September 2025. These meetings will bring together Ministers responsible for the environment from ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste, and Dialogue Partners of ASEAN to deliberate on regional and global priorities such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and transboundary haze pollution, while fostering inclusivity and sustainability of the region.

Dr. Kao will also grace the 6th ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City (ESC) Award Ceremony, recognising cities in ASEAN that have demonstrated exemplary leadership in advancing sustainability. Attending the AMME for the first time in his capacity as the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao will take the opportunity to engage in bilateral exchanges with Ministers from ASEAN Member States and Dialogue Partners of ASEAN. These engagements highlight ASEAN’s strong commitment to enhancing regional and global cooperation towards a sustainable, climate-resilient, and forward-looking ASEAN Community.