Following ASEAN’s agreement made at the 49^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in July 2016, the Signing Ceremony on the Accession of Chile, Egypt and Morocco to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) was held in the morning of 6 September 2016 at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers signed the Instruments of Extension of the TAC, while Designated Representatives of Chile, Egypt and Morocco signed the Instruments of Accession to the said Treaty.

The TAC has entered into force in 1976. The accession to the TAC by the three countries brings the signatories to the TAC 35 and also reflects the importance of the TAC as a key code of conduct governing relations between States as well as the positive contributions of the TAC to promoting regional and international peace and stability over 40 years and beyond.

In this connection, ASEAN agreed to consider new applications to be parties to the TAC in accordance with the Guidelines on the Accession to the TAC.