Vietnam fifth nation to ratify ASEAN Charter

President Nguyen Minh Triet had ratified the regional association's first common legal and institutional framework on March 6, after Singapore,
Brunei, Laos and Malaysia.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem sent the letter of ratification to ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan and foreign ministers of its member countries one week later.

"The ratification shows Vietnamese Government's strong commitment to accelerate regional integration," Nguyen Hong Cuong was quoted VNA from Vietnam News daily as saying.

The Charter, which sets out principals and rules for ASEAN's operation, is expected to help the association become a closer and more effective socio-political entity.

"A more powerful ASEAN means a stronger Viet Nam because Vietnam is an integral part of the organisation," the diplomat said.

"Vietnam could not have had today's achievements in foreign affairs or foreign investment if it were not an ASEAN member."

It was the goal of establishing ASEAN a three-pillar common community, including an economic blue-print to transform the region into a single market with a unified production base and no tariffs by 2015, that had made the entire region, including Vietnam, more attractive to investment.

The diplomat said Vietnam had made active contributions to the making
of the Charter.

This had include ...