ASEAN Secretary-General and SIIA Chairman discussed think tanks’ role in ASEAN integration.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), Prof. Simon Tay, this morning at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The meeting focused on the ASEAN Think Tanks Summit (ATTS), with discussions highlighting the role of think tanks in ASEAN Community-building and their participation in implementing ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.
The meeting took place as the third edition of the ASEAN Think Tanks Summit commenced. The summit was scheduled to be held until 15 September 2026 and provided a platform for think tanks to engage on issues relevant to ASEAN and its future development.
During the meeting, Dr. Kao and Prof. Tay exchanged views on the ATTS and its role as a platform for engagement among think tanks. Their discussion also addressed ways to ensure the active and meaningful participation of think tanks in the implementation of ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.
The ASEAN Secretary-General and the SIIA Chairman also discussed the contribution of think tanks to the ASEAN Community-building process. The meeting underscored the role of research and policy-oriented institutions in supporting regional discussions and contributing perspectives to ASEAN’s long-term community-building efforts.
The engagement between Dr. Kao and Prof. Tay took place in the context of the third edition of the ATTS, providing an opportunity to consider how think tanks and related platforms could contribute to the implementation of ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.
The discussions reflected the importance of continued engagement between ASEAN institutions and think tanks as ASEAN advances its long-term vision. The meeting also highlighted the need for think tanks to participate actively and meaningfully in supporting the implementation of the ASEAN 2045 framework.
Source: ASEAN
