The ASEAN Secretariat commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) with a ceremony at the ASEAN Headquarters, highlighting the Treaty’s enduring role in promoting peace, stability and cooperation. The event also inaugurated a TAC Flag Corner featuring the flags of all 62 High Contracting Parties.
The ASEAN Secretariat today held a commemorative ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The ceremony was convened on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Day celebrations and formed part of the commemorative activities led by the ASEAN Chair throughout 2026 to mark the Treaty’s golden anniversary.
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn delivered remarks at the ceremony, following addresses by H.E. Ambassador Evangeliene T. Ong Jimenez-Ducroq, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, and H.E. M. I. Derry Aman, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN. Their remarks underscored the continued importance of the TAC in strengthening ASEAN’s principles of peaceful relations, mutual respect and cooperation.
A key highlight of the ceremony was the inauguration of the TAC Flag Corner at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The display showcases the flags of the 62 High Contracting Parties to the Treaty, symbolising the TAC’s growing reach and its enduring appeal as a framework for peaceful and cooperative relations among States.
The ceremony also featured the screening of a commemorative video tracing key milestones in the TAC’s five-decade journey. Signed in 1976, the Treaty established a foundational code of conduct governing inter-State relations in Southeast Asia, with its principles continuing to guide ASEAN’s efforts to promote regional peace, stability and cooperation.
As the TAC celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, its 62 High Contracting Parties reflect the Treaty’s enduring relevance and broad international recognition. The golden anniversary provides an opportunity to reaffirm the principles underpinning the TAC and its continued contribution to a peaceful, stable and cooperative Southeast Asian region.
Source: ASEAN
