The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia currently has 62 High Contracting Parties, including Russia, and ASEAN expects additional countries to join the agreement during the 49th ASEAN Summit in November, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn says in an exclusive interview with TV BRICS.
Kao Kim Hourn highlights the expected expansion of the treaty as one of the significant developments surrounding its 50th anniversary. He notes that the agreement has gained a global geographical reach, with countries from different regions of the world among its participants.
The Secretary-General says the upcoming ASEAN Summit in November will be an important occasion for advancing the association’s agenda. Alongside the treaty’s anniversary, the summit is expected to feature the signing of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) after negotiations that began in September 2023 and concluded in May 2026.
Kao Kim Hourn also says ASEAN expects further progress on the ASEAN Power Grid initiative following the recent ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting.
The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia is one of the key instruments governing relations between states. Its 50th anniversary coincides with the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.
Watch the full exclusive interview with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn here.