ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a 11-member intergovernmental organization established in 1967 to promote political, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation. It promotes regional stability, trade, and development among its over 680 million people. Timor-Leste was admitted as the 11th member in October 2025.


Key Details about ASEAN:


Key Objectives and Focus Areas:

  • Economic Integration: Promoting free trade and reducing tariffs among members.
  • Regional Peace: Maintaining a secure and stable region.
  • Addressing Challenges: Tackling issues like climate change (with goals for net-zero emissions by 2050), transnational crime, and cyber security.
  • Sustainable Tourism: Focusing on resilient and accessible tourism.


The ASEAN Secretariat, based in Jakarta, handles the coordination of projects and activities




Secretary-General of ASEAN


The Secretary-General of ASEAN 2023-2028
H.E. DR. Kao Kim Hourn from Cambodia.


The Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat shall function as the coordinating Secretariat to help facilitate effective decision-making within and amongst ASEAN bodies. In addition, each Member States shall appoint a Permanent Representative to liaise with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat.


Term of Appointment and Role of Secretary-General of ASEAN based on Article 11 of the ASEAN Charter:

  • The Secretary-General of ASEAN shall be appointed by the ASEAN Summit for a non-renewable term of office of five years, selected from among nationals of the ASEAN Member States based on alphabetical rotation, with due consideration to integrity, capability and professional experience, and gender equality. 

 

  • The Secretary-General shall:
  1. carry out the duties and responsibilities of this high office in accordance with the provisions of this Charter and relevant ASEAN instruments, protocols and established practices; 
  2. facilitate and monitor progress in the implementation of ASEAN agreements and decisions, and submit an annual report on the work of ASEAN to the ASEAN Summit;
  3. participate in meetings of the ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Community Councils, the ASEAN Coordinating Council, and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and other relevant ASEAN meetings;
  4. present the views of ASEAN and participate in meetings with external parties in accordance with approved policy guidelines and mandate given to the Secretary-General; and
  5. recommend the appointment and termination of the Deputy Secretaries-General to the ASEAN Coordinating Council for approval.
  • The Secretary-General shall also be the Chief Administrative Officer of ASEAN.

 

  • The Secretary-General shall be assisted by four Deputy Secretaries-General with the rank and status of Deputy Ministers. The Deputy Secretaries-General shall be accountable to the Secretary-General in carrying out their functions. 

 

  • The four Deputy Secretaries-General shall be of different nationalities from the Secretary-General and shall come from four different ASEAN Member States.

 

  • The four Deputy Secretaries-General shall comprise:
  1. two Deputy Secretaries-General who will serve a non-renewable term of three years, selected from among nationals of the ASEAN Member States based on alphabetical rotation, with due consideration to integrity, qualifications, competence, experience and gender equality; and
  2. two Deputy Secretaries-General who will serve a term of three years, which may be renewed for another three years. These two Deputy Secretaries-General shall be openly recruited based on merit. 
  • The ASEAN Secretariat shall comprise the Secretary-General and such staff as may be required.

 

  • The Secretary-General and the staff shall:
  1. uphold the highest standards of integrity, efficiency, and competence in the performance of their duties; 
  2. not seek or receive instructions from any government or external party outside of ASEAN; and
  3. refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as ASEAN Secretariat officials responsible only to ASEAN.
  • Each ASEAN Member State undertakes to respect the exclusively ASEAN character of the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff, and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.



ASEAN Aims


As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:

 

 

  • accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations;


  • promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter;


  • promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;


  • provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres


  • collaborate more effectively to encourage further growth in the agriculture and industry, and trade sectors. This includes improving transportation and communications facilities and conducting studies on international commodity trade with the overarching goal of raising the living standards of ASEAN peoples;


  • promote Southeast Asian studies; and


  • maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves.




Fundamental Principles


In their relations with one another, the ASEAN Member States have adopted the following fundamental principles, as contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976:


  • Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations;
  • The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
  • Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
  • Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
  • Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
  • Effective cooperation among themselves.



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