JAKARTA, 24 November 2025 — H.E. Ralf Beste today presented his Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, marking the assumption of his post as the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to ASEAN.
Secretary-General Dr. Kao congratulated Ambassador Beste on his appointment and reaffirmed the ASEAN Secretariat’s readiness to work closely with him and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Indonesia to strengthen the ASEAN-Germany Development Partnership, ahead of its 10th anniversary in 2026. He noted Germany’s long-standing relations with ASEAN Member States, the appointments of its dedicated Ambassadors to ASEAN since 2009, its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2020, and the visit of its Foreign Minister to the ASEAN Secretariat earlier this year, respectively, signified Germany’s commitment to its relations and cooperation with ASEAN.
In response, Ambassador Beste highlighted that the 10th anniversary of Germany’s partnership with ASEAN next year is a symbolic manifestation of the close relations between both sides. To this end, he looked forward to working with Secretary-General Dr. Kao and the ASEAN Member States to further strengthen the ASEAN-Germany Development Partnership for mutual interest and benefit.
Secretary-General Dr. Kao also took the opportunity to encourage Ambassador Beste to engage with the diplomatic community in Jakarta, especially with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN. He also encouraged Ambassador Beste to visit all ASEAN Member States.
Looking ahead, both sides underscored the significance of strengthening, expanding and exploring cooperation in key areas of mutual interest under the ASEAN-Germany Practical Cooperation Areas (2023-2027). This includes disaster management and humanitarian assistance, technical vocational education and training (TVET), food, agriculture forestry and agroforestry, energy security and energy transition, climate cooperation and environmental protection.
Germany accredited its first Ambassador to ASEAN in 2009. Ambassador Beste succeeds Ambassador Ina Lepel, who completed her tenure in August 2025.