ASEAN:INCLUSIVITY ANDSUSTAINABILITY ISSN : 2963-2803Vol: 46, December 2025 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) wasestablished on 8 August 1967. Photo Credits: ASEAN Secretariat: Cover, Foreword, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 41, 42,43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 63, 67Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia: Cover, Foreword, 2,6, 7, 17, 21, 30Organising Committee of AMMDM: ForewordOrganising Committee of APGF: 19Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture (MOTAC) of Malaysia:28,36ASEAN-OSHNETawards:Ministry of Labour(MoL),Thailand:29AHA Centre: 32Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve: 32Government of Malaysia: 33UN-Habitat: 58, 62Shutterstock: 57Ministryof Housing and Local Government(KPKT)ofMalaysia: 59, 60ASEAN Connectivity: 59GRC Seoul National University: 60Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI): 61GIZ: 69ASEAN-UK HSP Programme: 70JAIF Management Team (JMT): 68Publication design and Infographic:Maginate Kreasindo TheMember States are Brunei Darussalam,Cambodia,Indonesia,Lao PDR,Malaysia,Myanmar,Philippines,Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam. The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia. ANNUAL REPORT 2025 For inquiries, contact: The ASEAN Secretariat Community Relations Division (CRD)70A Jalan SisingamangarajaJakarta 12110, IndonesiaPhone: (62 21) 724-3372, 726-2991Fax: (62 21) 739-8234, 724-3504E-mail: public@asean.org ASEAN:INCLUSIVITY ANDSUSTAINABILITY Catalogue-in-Publication Data ASEAN Annual Report 2025Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat, December 2025 352.11591. ASEAN – Association – Southeast Asia2. Political-Security – Economic – Socio-Cultural - Connectivity ISSN: 2963-2803Vol: 46, December 2025 The text of this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted,providedproper acknowledgement is given and a copycontaining the reprinted material is sent to the CommunityRelations Division (CRD) of the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta. TheASEANSecretariatisdedicatedtopromotingenvironmental sustainability. In line with this commitment,this Annual Report is printed on paper that is certified by theForest Stewardship Council (FSC), reflecting our support forresponsible forest management practices. Editorial Board: Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEANNararya S. Soeprapto, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEANfor Community and Corporate AffairsLee Yoong Yoong, Director of Community Affairs Directorate General information on ASEAN appears online at the ASEANWebsite: www.asean.org Editorial Team: Marisol Hernandez, Assistant Director & Head of CommunityRelations DivisionDestya Pahnael, Senior Officer, Community Relation DivisionSri Wahyuni, Publication Officer, Community Relation DivisionChristian Razukas, Editor CopyrightAssociationofSoutheastAsianNations(ASEAN)2025. All rights reserved. ASEAN: A Community of Opportunities for All CONTENTS IIIForewordXIIntroduction01ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC)15ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)31ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) 43ASEAN Community Engagement and Outreach Efforts61ASEAN Connectivity67ASEAN Projects and Programmes77ASEAN Milestones 2025 FOREWORD Secretary-General of ASEAN 2025 rolled on, ASEAN’s potential continues togrow exponentially, something that is attested toby various initiatives that have gained traction.TheASEAN Power Grid is an idea whose time hascome, and its relevance is recognised. Once fullyoperational, it will not only ensure that the entireregion has access to stable and clean energybut will also contribute towards further realisingASEAN’s Connectivity agenda and the ASEANEconomic Community. Three years ago, when I assumed my position asthe Secretary-General of ASEAN, I laid down whatI call the 6 Ps-peace, prosperity, people, planet,partnerships, and potential-to guide my policythrusts in performing my role. Beyond serving thispurpose, these 6 Ps likewise encapsulate whatASEAN as a Community is; one that constantlyworks for peace, and that peace is not takenfor granted; prosperity for the entire region asa goal, with people at the heart of everythingASEAN does; making sure that the planet is takencare of; leveraging its deepening and wideningpartnerships; and maximising the potential thatcomes about. ASEAN’s partnerships continue to grow anddeepen, with the year 2025 seeing additionalcountries acceding to the Treaty of Amity andCooperationin Southeast Asia(TAC).Withtheformal accession of Algeria, Uruguay andFinland, the number of High Contracting Parties tothe TAC now stands at 58, with others requesting todo the same. The TAC is not only a legally bindingdocument, which sets the norms and principlesthat guide how the High Contracting Parties dealwith one another; it also paves the way for deeperand closer cooperation between ASEAN and fellowHigh Contracting Parties. ASEAN’s prosperity agenda remained on track,withkey milestones taking shape in 2025, suchas the substantive conclusion of negotiationsfor the Digital Economy Framework Agreement(DEFA) an