At the invitation of the Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group to Develop the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Strategic Plan, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, will lead the ASEAN Secretariat’s delegation to participate in the Regional Forum to Deepen Stakeholder Awareness and Engagement on the ASCC Strategic Plan, to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 19 August 2025. Dr. Kao will deliver remarks and officiate the ceremonial launch of the ASCC Strategic Plan at the Opening Ceremony of the Regional Forum, along with the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Malaysia and the ASCC Council Chair for 2025, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, as well as the Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, Kiya Masahiko. The Secretary-General of ASEAN is also scheduled to meet bilaterally with Dato Sri Tiong King Sing to discuss ASCC’s priorities under the Chairmanship of Malaysia this year. The Regional Forum aims to increase awareness, collective ownership and deepen partnership and cooperation to support the achievement of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the implementation of the ASCC Strategic Plan.
- ABOUT ASEAN
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
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
Menu - WHO WE WORK WITH
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.
Menu - OUR COMMUNITIES
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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