On 12 August 2026, Consul General of Ukraine in Guangzhou Serhii Kapuzo attended a ceremony marking the 59th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

ASEAN is a regional intergovernmental organization that promotes political, economic and cultural cooperation among 11 Southeast Asian countries. The Association was established in Bangkok, Thailand, on 8 August 1967 through the signing of the ASEAN Declaration, commonly known as the Bangkok Declaration. ASEAN’s legal and institutional framework was further strengthened in 1976 on the island of Bali through the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, also known as the Bali Treaty, and the Declaration of ASEAN Concord.

ASEAN currently comprises 11 Member States. Its founding members were Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, which signed the founding declaration on 8 August 1967. They were subsequently joined by Brunei Darussalam on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, Cambodia on 30 April 1999, and Timor-Leste on 26 October 2025.

Papua New Guinea has held observer status since 1976 and was granted special observer status in 1981. The ASEAN Member States have a combined population of approximately 693 million. The region covers more than 4.5 million square kilometres and has a combined nominal GDP exceeding USD 3.9 trillion.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, officials from the provincial and municipal authorities, representatives of major international and Chinese companies, members of the public and the media.

The participants were addressed by Mr Li, Head of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, and Mr TUN Thona, Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Guangzhou and Consul General of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The Consul General of Ukraine personally congratulated the heads of the consular missions of the ASEAN Member States represented in Guangzhou and wished both ASEAN as an organization and each of its Member States continued success and prosperity.

During the event, the Consul General also held friendly discussions with the heads of consular missions representing Ukraine’s partner countries, local government officials and members of the business community.