Charter of ASEAN endorsed

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-20-2007 13:41

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have endorsed the Charter of ASEAN in Singapore.

The mini-constitution is aimed at creating a framework and legal foundation for the regional grouping to restructure its existing mechanisms, and to improve decision making.

After 40 years as a loose regional grouping, ASEAN is finally establishing a charter that took three years to prepare. It comprises 55 articles in 13 chapters. The main points of the Charter include:

Maintaining peace, security and stability; enhancing regional resilience; preserving Southeast Asia as a nuclear weapon-free zone; ensuring that the people and member states of ASEAN live in peace with the world at large in a just, democratic and harmonious environment; creating a single market and production base; strengthening democracy; promoting sustainable development; and promoting ASEAN identity.

The Charter says all ASEAN member states must be respected for their independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity. The group must renounce aggression and the threat or use of force, peacefully settle disputes, not interfere in the internal affairs of its member countries, respect fundamental freedoms, promote and protect human rights and promote social justice, and adhere to multilateral trade rules and regimes.

ASEAN member states have equal rights and obligations under the Charter. They must take all necessary domestic measures, including enacting appropriate legislation, to comply with all obligations of their membership. Any serious breach of the Charter or non-compliance shall be referred to the ASEAN summit for decision.

The ASEAN Summit Meetings of the heads of state or government of member states will be held twice a year. The Summit will be the supreme policy-making body of ASEAN and work with other organs such as the Coordinating and Community Councils.

Editor:Zhang Ning