Jakarta (ANTARA) - Saudi Arabia has become the 51st country to sign the ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

"We welcome Saudi Arabia to the ASEAN family," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi stated during a ceremony event for the signing of the Instrument of Accession to the TAC by Saudi Arabia's Foreign Affairs Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud here Wednesday.

The signing was conducted on the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM).

Marsudi noted that the signing of the TAC by Saudi Arabia reflected the country's commitment to obeying ASEAN values and principles, namely to cooperate, consistently uphold international law, and contribute to peace and stability in the Southeast Asia region and beyond.

The minister emphasized that those values and principles are essential to continuously be implemented amid the current geopolitical dynamics.

"Together, we must serve as a positive force for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region," she remarked.

Apart from Saudi Arabia, Indonesia will also make efforts for Panama, Spain, and Mexico's accession to the TAC on the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in September 2023.

The TAC, which was established in 1976, aims to create political stability and security in Southeast Asia by regulating the peaceful resolution of conflicts between countries.

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Translator: Yashinta Difa, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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