Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin was in charge of the signing during an official visit to Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, where he is participating in the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
A statement from the Foreign Ministry reported that Lubetkin stated at the signing ceremony that Uruguay is a “country firmly committed to multilateralism, peace, and the promotion of human rights.”
Uruguay considers “this joining a valuable opportunity to deepen ties with ASEAN and with each of its member states,” he said.
At the ceremony, the Minister pledge himself in favor of developing a concerte collaboration between ASEAN and Mercosur.
“We now recognize the need for greater collaboration,” he insisted.
The ACT OF ASEAN includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste.
The treaty has been in force since 1976 and was amended in 1987 to allow the accession of non-regional countries.
It “establishes fundamental principles such as respect for sovereignty, non-intervention, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the renunciation of the use of force.”
The Foreign Affairs Ministry emphasized that “ASEAN members represent a population of approximately 675 million, with GDP growth of 4,5% by 2024, and are responsible for 9% of global trade and 17,3% of global foreign direct investment.”
Lubetkin met in Kuala Lumpur with his counterparts from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Algeria, as well as with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.
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