Kuala lumpur: ASEAN will formally welcome Algeria and Uruguay as the latest signatories to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). ‘Later today, we welcome Algeria and Uruguay as new signatories to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation,’ said Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan during the opening ceremony of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the TAC is a foundational and legally binding document for ASEAN. Established in 1976, it serves as a code of conduct for inter-state relations in the region and beyond, embodying universal principles of peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation. At present, 55 countries are party to the TAC.

‘ASEAN’s principles are being embraced well beyond the region,’ Mohamad said. The ongoing 58th AMM and related meetings are being conducted under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025 with the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’.