ASEAN was formally created in Jakarta, Indonesia, but its permanent headquarters is in Bangkok, Thailand.

Rajaratnam of Singapore and Thanat Khoman of Thailand are recognized as among the Founding Fathers of ASEAN.

The ASEAN flag’s blue background symbolizes unity and prosperity across the member states.

The 10 yellow rice stalks in the ASEAN flag represent unity among the 10 member states.

The ASEAN Charter, adopted in 2007, officially came into force on December 15, 2009.

The ASEAN Summit, hosted on a rotational basis, is held once every year to discuss regional directions and cooperation.

The ASEAN Chairmanship rotates every year following the alphabetical order of the countries’ capitals.

In 2026, the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur focused on the theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”

The ASEAN Coordinating Council, made up of Foreign Ministers, meets only once a year to prepare for the Summit.

The ASEAN Community Councils embody three pillars: Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Economic.

The ASEAN Political-Security Community Council focuses on conflict prevention, human rights, and sovereignty.

Dr. Kao Kim Houn is the current Secretary-General of ASEAN serving a renewable 5-year term.

ASEAN’s main mission is to strengthen cultural exchange while ensuring peace among its member states.

On the ASEAN flag, the red circle is a symbol of peace and stability within the region.