Friday, 21 March 2008

Vietnam Signs ASEAN Charter

Hanoi, Mar 20 (Prensa Latina) Vietnam became the fifth signatory of the Charter of the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN).

Nguyen Hong Cuong, head of the local Foreign Ministry Department for ASEAN, said President Nguyen Minh Triet approved of the addition to show strong commitment to regional integration.

A more powerful ASEAN means a stronger Vietnam, adding that without this membership the country will not be able to show its achievements in foreign affair and foreign investment.

Among its contribution to the letter lies preserving its inter-governmental nature that guarantees the sovereignty to each of its ten member countries, and does not turn it into an external organization like the European Union.

The members of ASEAN are Singapore, Laos, Brunei and Malaysia while Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar are expected to join in before January 2009.

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