Hanoi (VNA) - The Lithuanian Government on March 19 approved the country's accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), the Baltic News Service (BNS) reported.
Following the Cabinet's approval, Lithuania will submit its accession request to the current ASEAN Chair, Malaysia, for consideration.
Subsequently, the treaty will require ratification by the Lithuanian parliament upon submission by the President.
Established in 1976, the TAC is often regarded as an informal code of conduct guiding relations between countries in Southeast Asia, emphasising principles of respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
In order to transform it into a common code of conduct for ASEAN’s relations with external parties, thus contributing to strengthening peace and security in the region, ASEAN decided to invite additional countries from outside the region to join the treaty. As of October 2024, a total of 55 countries had joined the treaty./.
VNA
