Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, briefed the diplomatic corps and media on the outcomes of ASEAN’s ministerial meetings in Manila, highlighting regional cooperation, ASEAN centrality, and preparations for the 49th ASEAN Summit. The briefing also reflected on the successful commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, briefed members of the diplomatic corps and the media at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat on the key outcomes of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and its related meetings, which took place in Manila, the Philippines, from 18 to 24 July 2026. Representatives from ASEAN Committees in Third Countries and International Organisations (ACTCs) also joined the briefing virtually.
The week-long series of meetings included the Post-Ministerial Conferences (PMC), the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 16th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum. The programme concluded with commemorative events marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), underscoring the agreement’s enduring role in promoting peace, stability, and regional cooperation.
Among the key highlights of the anniversary celebrations was the signing ceremony of the Instruments of Accession to the TAC by Lithuania, Sweden, Romania, and Poland, further expanding the treaty’s global reach. The High-level Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the TAC also reaffirmed the importance of the treaty as a cornerstone of ASEAN’s regional architecture and its commitment to peaceful dialogue and mutual respect.
During the briefing, Dr. Kao emphasised ASEAN’s continued central role in shaping the regional architecture through its ASEAN-led mechanisms, which remain vital platforms for dialogue, confidence-building, and practical cooperation among member states and external partners. He also highlighted the strong support demonstrated by ASEAN’s dialogue partners towards the implementation of ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, the region’s long-term strategic vision for sustainable development, resilience, and deeper integration.
The Secretary-General noted that the outcomes of the ministerial meetings have laid important groundwork for the 49th ASEAN Summit and related Summits, scheduled to be held in Manila later this year. The briefing was livestreamed via the ASEAN Secretariat’s YouTube channel, allowing broader public access to updates on ASEAN’s priorities and regional initiatives.
Source: ASEAN
