Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos has proposed the conversion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) into a political union by crafting a binding charter, a statement of the 12th ASEAN Summit organizing body said Thursday.

As the Philippines' representative to the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) of the ASEAN, Ramos was quoted by the statement as saying that he has made the proposal in order to prepare future generations in the Southeast Asia to cope with new challenges and implement the bold idea of "One Union" agreed by the EPG members.

The idea, Ramos said, would be a step further beyond the notion of "One Vision, One Identity, One Community" during the EPG's recent meeting in Singapore.

The EPG, composed of 10 highly-recognized individuals representing each ASEAN member nation, is expected to come up with their report including the recommendations on the vision, mission, principles and values to be embodied in the future ASEAN Charter.

The ASEAN leaders will receive the EPG report at the Summit which starts here on Sunday.

The EPG earlier said they are providing directions to the ASEAN's institutionalization and decision-making process beyond 2020. If successful, the ASEAN would acquire its legal identity with a Charter similar to that of the European Union.

Source: Xinhua