Three of ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Laos, Malaysia and Brunei - have ratified the ASEAN Charter, bringing the total number to four, said Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo Wednesday.
He announced this when he briefed the media after the ASEAN foreign ministers ended a two-day retreat in Singapore.
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan received the instruments of ratification from Laos and Malaysia Wednesday during a special ceremony on the sidelines of the meeting, while Brunei deposited its instrument of ratification on Feb. 15, said Yeo.
He ensured that the Charter, meant to transform the bloc into amore rules-based community, will come into effect at the beginning of next year after all ten member nations ratifying it.
Singapore was the first member country to ratify the ASEAN Charter after it was signed by the grouping's leaders at the summit in Singapore last November.
The bloc also groups Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Source: Xinhua
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