ASEAN Welcomes Non-Regional Countries To Join Bloc's TAC

By Ahmad Aidil Syukri Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- ASEAN Foreign Ministers welcomed the growing interest of non-regional countries to accede to the bloc’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). 

Welcoming the accession of Algeria and Uruguay as new signatories to the TAC, the ministers said the participation has to be based on respect for, and adherence to, its purposes and principles.

They also reaffirmed the importance and relevance of the treaty as a foundational code of conduct for interstate relations in the region and a cornerstone of regional peace and stability.

“We remained committed to promoting and upholding the principles enshrined in the TAC, and emphasised the responsibility of all High Contracting Parties (HCPs) to fulfill their Treaty obligations,” the ministers said in a joint communique issued today following the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting here on Wednesday (July 9).

The 58th AMM and related meetings - held from July 8 under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability' - concluded at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) here today.

Algeria and Uruguay signed the Instrument of Accession to TAC on Wednesday, bringing the total number of states party to the ASEAN treaty to 57. 

The ministers said they look forward to the convening of the second iteration of the Conference of the HCPs to the TAC, to be held in August at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, as part of the preparations for the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the signing of TAC in 2026.

They added that they are also looking forward to the adoption of an ASEAN-sponsored resolution by the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) commemorating the 50th anniversary of the TAC.

-- BERNAMA