Kao Kim Hourn

His Excellency Dr.
Kao Kim Hourn
CM
កៅ គឹមហួន
Kao in 2024
15th Secretary-General of ASEAN
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 January 2023
Preceded byLim Jock Hoi
Personal details
Born (1966-05-28) May 28, 1966 (age 58)
Koh Sotin, Kampong Cham, Cambodia
Alma materBaylor University (BA)
Ohio University (MA)
University of Hawaii at Manoa (Ph.D.)
OccupationDiplomat and educator

Kao Kim Hourn CM (Khmer: កៅ គឹមហួន, romanized: Kau Kœ̆m Huŏn [kaw kɨm huən]; born 28 May 1966) is the current Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).[1] 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.[2]

After being educated in the United States, Kao returned to Cambodia in 1993, and has been involved in Cambodian public service and think tanks.[3] He played an integral role in Cambodia's entrance into ASEAN in 1999,[4] 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.[5]

Kao also founded The University of Cambodia (UC) in 2003,[6] which became a top-ranking Cambodian university under his tenure as President.[7] He has since helped to found two think tanks: the Asia Economic Forum,[8] and the Asian Faiths Development Dialogue.[6] In addition, he also helped to found the South East Asia Television network and radio station, known as SEATV and Radio.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] He is the first Cambodian citizen to hold this position since Cambodia joined ASEAN.[13]

  1. ^ "You are being redirected..." asean. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  2. ^ "Global Council". Asia Society. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  3. ^ "Interviews – Kao Kim Hourn – PDF Download". Innovations for Successful Societies. Princeton University. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  4. ^ Koh, Tommy (2009). The Making of the ASEAN Charter. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Company Co. Pte. Ltd. p. Chapter 12, pg. 155. ISBN 978-981-283-390-7.
  5. ^ "People – Kao Kim Hourn". World Economic Forum.
  6. ^ a b Marshall, Katherine. "A Discussion with Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, President, University of Cambodia, Executive Director, Asia Faiths Development Dialogue (AFDD)". Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Top Universities in Cambodia". 4 International Colleges & Universities. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Committee Members". Asia Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Owners – Kao Kim Hourn". Who Owns the Media. Cambodian Center for Independent Media. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Welcome to The University of Cambodia (UC)". www.uc.edu.kh. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  11. ^ "School of Foreign Languages". The University of Cambodia. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  12. ^ chivorn (11 November 2022). "ASEAN Leaders Support the Appointment of Cambodian Delegate Minister Kao Kim Hourn as ASEAN Secretary General (Video inside)". FRESH NEWS. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  13. ^ "A Cambodian senior official appointed ASEAN Secretary General from 2023". Khmer Times. 2022-08-04. Retrieved 2022-08-14.