During his visit, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn took part in a campus tour and an expert discussion with scholars from Freie Universität Berlin, primarily from the field of political science. The exchange focused on shared challenges and cooperation perspectives between ASEAN, the European Union, and Germany. Key topics included regional stability amid global disruptions, the future of the rules-based international order, and the role of regional organizations in an evolving geopolitical landscape. Participants also discussed the growing impact of artificial intelligence on misinformation and disinformation and its implications for international politics.The discussion also drew on recent global security debates, including the Munich Security Conference, and addressed ASEAN’s strategic positioning and cooperation with European partners.

The discussion was opened by Professor Dr. Tanja A. Börzel, Director of SCRIPTS and Dean of the Department of Political and Social Sciences at Freie Universität Berlin.

Reflecting on the exchange, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn emphasized the value of dialogue with academic institutions:

“Our dialogue with international academic partners opens new perspectives on stability and cooperation in a world shaped by dynamic geopolitical change. The exchange with Freie Universität Berlin and the Cluster of Excellence SCRIPTS strengthened our shared understanding of how multilateral cooperation can contribute to more resilient regions and global orders.”

Professor Dr. Tanja A. Börzel highlighted the significance of international perspectives for SCRIPTS’ research agenda:

“We were very pleased to welcome Dr. Kao Kim Hourn to Freie Universität Berlin. His visit underlined the importance of cross-regional academic dialogue for understanding global challenges. At SCRIPTS, we place strong emphasis on international exchange to explore democratic resilience, security, and technological transformation from diverse perspectives.”

ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is a regional organisation comprising eleven Member States in Southeast Asia. It plays a central role in promoting political and security cooperation, economic integration, and socio-cultural development, while fostering regional dialogue, cooperation, and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)” examines why liberal democracies face growing global pressure and what strengthens their resilience. Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) under the German Excellence Strategy since 2019, SCRIPTS is hosted by Freie Universität Berlin and works in partnership with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Hertie School, the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS), and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).

The visit highlighted Freie Universität Berlin’s role as a platform for international academic exchange and dialogue on pressing global issues.

The visit of Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, takes place as part of an ASEAN delegation visit to Germany, during which he also participated in the Munich Security Conference. The visit is facilitated by the German cooperation project “Promoting Rules-Based Security Policy and Integration in Southeast Asia,” funded by the Federal Foreign Office and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

GIZ is Germany’s federal enterprise for international cooperation in sustainable development. Working on behalf of the German Government, GIZ supports the ASEAN Secretariat and its Member States in advancing sustainable development and regional integration, contributing to a green, resilient, and inclusive ASEAN in line with regional priorities and German and European strategies. For more information: www.giz.de.