The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) says in its Charter adopted in Singapore Tuesday that it may see an appropriate status with the United Nations system as well as with other sub-regional, regional, international organizations and institutions.
As the regional grouping becomes 40 years old this year, it established the mini-constitution after some three years' preparation.
The Charter says the ASEAN Coordinating Council shall decide on the participation of ASEAN in other sub-regional, regional, international organizations and institutions.
It says that in conducting ASEAN's external relations, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting may confer on an external party the formal status of Dialogue Partner, Sectoral dialogue Partner, Development Partner, Special Observer, Guest, or other status that may be established henceforth.
But it also says external parties may be invited to ASEAN meetings or cooperative activities without being conferred any formal status, in accordance with the rules of procedure.
The Charter says that non-ASEAN member states and relevant inter-governmental organizations may appoint and accredit ambassadors to ASEAN, and that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting shall decide on such accreditation.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Source: Xinhua
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