Conference of the Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

ASEAN countries affirmed that, after nearly 50 years of being signed, TAC continues to be a fundamental document of ASEAN, a basis for promoting dialogue, cooperation, and enhancing trust.

Hội nghị các bên tham gia Hiệp ước Thân thiện và hợp tác ở Đông Nam Á

Conference delegates take a group photo.

On June 26, the first Conference of the Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) was held at the ASEAN Secretariat headquarters in Jakarta with the participation of Ambassador-level representatives of 48/54 participating parties.

ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn attended and delivered the opening speech. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Laos to ASEAN Bovonethat Douangchak, in his role as ASEAN Chair 2024, chaired the Conference.

With the theme “Review and orientation for the future”, the countries presented their views on the meaning and importance of TAC, proposed cooperation possibilities in the spirit of TAC, aiming at the goal of maintaining sustainable peace, friendship and cooperation between countries and people in the region as well as in the world.

ASEAN countries affirmed that after nearly 50 years of being signed, the TAC continues to be a fundamental document of ASEAN, a basis for promoting dialogue, cooperation, enhancing trust, and a code of conduct not only between countries in Southeast Asia but also an increasingly expanding scope including partners from many regions around the world.

Through this Conference, ASEAN countries want to listen to the views of partners, discuss ways to coordinate, promote and comply with the values and principles of the TAC to maintain peace, stability and harmony in the region and peacefully resolve disputes.

At the same time, ASEAN countries also pointed out that the cooperation aspect under the provisions of the TAC still has potential to be exploited, wishing to exchange and explore the possibility of promoting appropriate cooperation between participating parties, supporting ASEAN in building the Community, and responding to emerging challenges.

The partners participating in the TAC spoke positively, affirming their respect and compliance with the legally binding principles and regulations of the TAC, supporting the central role and the process of building the ASEAN Community, continuing to cooperate and coordinate closely with ASEAN countries to maintain dialogue, cooperation, build trust, and aim to realize the noble goals of the TAC.

Several countries took the opportunity of the Conference to present their views on international and regional issues of concern such as the situation in the East Sea, Myanmar, the Korean Peninsula, conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, etc. and affirmed their support for ASEAN's role and voice in efforts with the international community to find solutions to challenges that threaten peace, security and stability in the region.

Vietnam's representative, Ambassador, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to ASEAN Ton Thi Ngoc Huong emphasized that after nearly 50 years of being signed, the six basic principles of the TAC still retain their value, especially in the context of the increasingly complex geopolitical and geo-economic environment in the region.

The Ambassador requested that the parties to the TAC demonstrate their commitment through practical actions, strictly implement and fully comply with the provisions of the TAC, as well as respect the principles and fundamental values stated in the ASEAN Charter, the Bali Principles on Mutually Beneficial Relations and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), so that the spirit of friendship and cooperation in the very name of the Treaty is realized.

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