The High-Level Conference reaffirmed the enduring relevance of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) as a cornerstone of regional peace, stability and cooperation. ASEAN Foreign Ministers and High Contracting Parties also exchanged views on strengthening collaboration to address evolving regional and global challenges.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, participated in the High-Level Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in Manila, the Philippines, as part of the commemorative activities marking the Treaty’s 50th anniversary. The conference brought together ASEAN Foreign Ministers and ministerial-level representatives of the High Contracting Parties to celebrate five decades of the landmark treaty, which has served as a foundation for peace and cooperation across the region.
Held alongside ASEAN-related meetings in Manila, the conference highlighted the enduring significance of the TAC in promoting peaceful relations, mutual respect and constructive dialogue among its signatories. Since its adoption in 1976, the treaty has remained a key framework guiding relations among ASEAN Member States while attracting an increasing number of countries from outside the region to accede to its principles.
During the conference, participants reaffirmed their collective commitment to upholding the purposes and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. The gathering underscored the treaty’s continued relevance in fostering regional peace, stability and prosperity amid an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for High Contracting Parties to exchange views on strengthening cooperation and enhancing collaboration in addressing shared regional and global challenges. Discussions reflected a shared determination to ensure that the TAC remains an inclusive and effective framework for dialogue, confidence-building and peaceful dispute settlement.
As ASEAN commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the conference reinforced the organisation’s commitment to ASEAN Centrality and its vision of maintaining a peaceful, stable and prosperous region through dialogue, cooperation and adherence to international law.
Source: ASEAN
