In a significant diplomatic stride, Serbia has signed an accession instrument to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, during the 43rd ASEAN Summit held in Jakarta, according to an official government statement. The ASEAN member states, which include Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, and Myanmar, unanimously approved Serbia’s accession request in July this year.
This key development paves the way for Serbia to engage in closer dialogue, foster collaboration, and participate in various ASEAN networks and platforms. It also boosts the prospects for substantial economic and socio-cultural cooperation between Serbia and the Southeast Asian bloc.
Among the core areas of ASEAN’s collaboration with treaty signatories are economic partnership, educational exchange, and the development of people-to-people contact, science, technology, innovation, and sustainable growth.
Serbia formally submitted its application for accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2013. Other signatories include major global players such as China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, France, the United States, Canada, Turkey, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
Panama and Kuwait also signed the accession instrument during the ceremony. Ivica Dačić, Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who signed the treaty, stated that this is a momentous event for Serbia to further enhance its relations with friendly nations. Dačić emphasized that Serbia’s long-standing principles align closely with those of ASEAN, which include mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations, non-interference in internal affairs, and peaceful resolution of differences.
Photo: Tanjug/mfa.gov.rs