Kao Kim Hourn

Kao Kim Hourn ( ; born 28 May 1966) is the current Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He previously served two terms as Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia (2013-2022) and two terms as Secretary of State of Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (2003-2013). Dr. Kao, his formal Cambodian name, is a Member of the Supreme National Economic Council, Senior Fellow at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia, and a Member of the Global Council of The Asia Society.

After being educated in the United States, Kao returned to Cambodia in 1993, and has been involved in Cambodian public service and think tanks. He played an integral role in Cambodia's entrance into ASEAN in 1999, and has served as Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from 2001 to 2003 and as Secretary of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from 2004-2013.

Kao also founded The University of Cambodia (UC) in 2003, which became a top-ranking Cambodian university under his tenure as President. He has since helped to found two think tanks: the Asia Economic Forum, and the Asian Faiths Development Dialogue. In addition, he also helped to found the South East Asia Television network and radio station, known as SEATV and Radio.

In 2014, Kao founded the Techo Sen School of Government and International Relations at The University of Cambodia, providing training for administrators, policy makers, and young leaders. In 2015, he founded the College of Media and Communications at The University of Cambodia to promote journalism and communications education, and provide students with hands on training at Southeast Asia Television (SEATV) and Radio (FM 106). In 2018, He also founded the School of Foreign Languages, which offers full degrees in English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and French and provides short courses in Thai and German. Additionally, he established the School of Creative Arts, aimed to preserve and celebrate Cambodia's rich history of art, song, and dance. In August 2022, Kao was appointed as the next Secretary-General of ASEAN at the plenary session of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and in November 2022 at the ASEAN Summit, all ASEAN leaders supported his appointment. He is the first Cambodian citizen to hold this position since Cambodia joined ASEAN. Provided by Wikipedia