Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with Vice President of Huawei Asia Pacific, Mr. Peter Pan Junfeng, at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta on 11 June 2026. During the meeting, Huawei expressed its appreciation to the ASEAN Secretariat for the strong relationship and meaningful engagements established over the years between the technology giant and the regional bloc.
Mr. Peter Pan Junfeng also introduced Mr. Vincent Xu Ke, the incoming Vice President of Huawei Asia Pacific, who will further strengthen Huawei’s collaboration with ASEAN moving forward. The transition signals Huawei’s continued commitment to deepening its partnership with Southeast Asia as the region accelerates its digital transformation agenda.
The meeting comes at a pivotal time for ASEAN’s digital economy, which is projected to exceed USD 300 billion by 2030 according to regional economic forecasts. Huawei, a global leader in information and communications technology infrastructure and smart devices, has been a key partner in supporting ASEAN member states’ connectivity and digital infrastructure development, including 5G network rollouts, cloud computing services, and artificial intelligence applications across the region.
ASEAN has placed digital transformation at the center of its post-pandemic economic recovery strategy. The ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 outlines ambitious goals for expanding broadband access, promoting digital literacy, and fostering an enabling environment for e-commerce and digital financial services. Partnerships with private sector leaders like Huawei are essential to achieving these objectives.
Huawei has operated in Southeast Asia for over two decades, establishing regional headquarters in Singapore and maintaining research and development centers in several ASEAN countries including Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The company has played a significant role in building telecommunications infrastructure in emerging economies such as Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, contributing to the narrowing of the digital divide within the region.
The meeting between Dr. Kao and Huawei leadership also reflects ASEAN’s broader strategy of engaging with technology companies to support the bloc’s digital economy framework. ASEAN has been actively promoting public-private partnerships to accelerate digital adoption, enhance cybersecurity cooperation, and develop digital skills training programs for the region’s growing youth population.
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, who assumed the role of ASEAN Secretary-General in 2023, has consistently emphasized the importance of science, technology, and innovation as drivers of ASEAN’s economic integration and sustainable development. His engagements with leading technology firms signal ASEAN’s openness to leveraging external expertise and investment in building a digitally inclusive and competitive Southeast Asia.
The Huawei partnership is particularly significant given the ongoing global discussions around digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, and technology supply chain resilience. ASEAN member states have adopted diverse approaches to managing relationships with technology providers, and the ASEAN Secretariat’s continued dialogue with major players like Huawei helps facilitate coordination and information sharing among member countries.
As ASEAN moves toward the implementation of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which aims to facilitate cross-border digital trade and data flows among member states, partnerships with experienced technology companies will be instrumental in ensuring that the region benefits from global best practices and cutting-edge innovations.
Sources: [asean.org]
