What We Do
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.
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.
ASEAN Secretariat
The ASEAN Secretariat was set up in February 1976 by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN. It was then housed at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia in Jakarta. The existing ASEAN Secretariat at 70A Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Jakarta was established and officiated in 1981 by the then President of Indonesia, H.E. Soeharto.
The ASEAN Secretariat’s basic function is to provide for greater efficiency in the coordination of ASEAN organs and for more effective implementation of ASEAN projects and activities.
The ASEAN Secretariat’s vision is that by 2015, it will be the nerve centre of a strong and confident ASEAN Community that is globally respected for acting in full compliance with its Charter and in the best interest of its people.
The ASEAN Secretariat’s mission is to initiate, facilitate and coordinate ASEAN stakeholder collaboration in realising the purposes and principles of ASEAN as reflected in the ASEAN Charter.
Committee of Permanent Representatives
The ASEAN Charter provides for the establishment of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), which shall be constituted by the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States at the rank of Ambassadors based in Jakarta. The Chairmanship of the Committee is in line with the annual rotation of ASEAN Chairmanship.
