Uzbekistan Gains ASEAN Support to Join TAC

Uzbekistan’s cooperation with Southeast Asia took a major step forward after all ASEAN member states approved Tashkent’s application to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

The decision was reached during a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers chaired by Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, The Caspian Post reports, citing The Times of Central Asia.

The TAC, signed in Bali in 1976, establishes key principles for regional interaction, including respect for sovereignty, non-interference, peaceful dispute resolution, and the renunciation of force.

With 11 member countries and a population nearing 700 million, ASEAN represents one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions. Uzbekistan’s accession to the TAC is expected to strengthen its political and economic presence in Southeast Asia, expand state-to-state cooperation, stimulate trade and investment, and enhance confidence among international companies operating in-or looking to enter-Central Asia.