KUALA LUMPUR: Finland has officially joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), making it the third country to join the Asean treaty during Malaysia’s Asean Chairmanship 2025.
Its accession brings the total number of states that signed the Asean treaty to 58, after Algeria and Uruguay in July, further reinforcing the bloc’s role as a bridge of cooperation between regions and continents.
Finland, represented by Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, formalised the country’s commitment on the sidelines of the 47th Asean Summit and related summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) here on Saturday (Oct 25).
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. Also in attendance were the foreign ministers of Asean member states and Timor-Leste and Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
Established in 1976, the TAC embodies universal principles of peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation among states, which serves as a legally binding code for interstate relations within Southeast Asia and extends its influence beyond the region.
Parties to the treaty include major global powers such as China, the United States, Russia and the European Union.
Malaysia, which holds the Asean chairmanship this year under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, will host the 47th Asean Summit from Oct 26 to 28.
The summit serves as a crucial platform to foster deeper collaboration while addressing regional and global challenges in a cohesive and inclusive manner. – Bernama
