During the visit to Cambodia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba signed the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia on behalf of Ukraine.
The signing ceremony took place during the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is held in Phnom Penh.
"At the behest of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian diplomacy is actively working in order to open new horizons for Ukraine in the world. ASEAN is one of the fastest growing regions in the world. There are great opportunities for trade here, and the political support of the ASEAN countries is important for countering the Russian aggression. Joining the fundamental agreement of this powerful association will bring the clear benefits to the Ukrainian state, business and citizens," - emphasized Dmytro Kuleba.
Ukraine began the process of joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia back in 2017, but the process moved slowly. It was possible to move it from a dead point only when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated Asia as one of the priority areas of foreign policy and adopted a comprehensive Asian strategy in 2020.
"Within the framework of the Asian strategy, we audited projects that have not been developing for a long time, conducted the additional negotiations with partners and agreed on the Instrument of Accession to the ASEAN Fundamental Treaty. I am grateful to Cambodia, which currently chairs the Assembly, for hosting the signing ceremony of this document at the current Southeast Asian Leaders' Summit. This step brings our relations with the ASEAN countries to a qualitatively new level," - noted Dmytro Kuleba.
The minister stressed that after the agreement enters into force, Ukraine and ASEAN will have a legal framework for maintaining the regular political, economic, cultural and humanitarian contacts and development of the mutually beneficial projects.
The head of the Foreign Ministry also announced that as part of the intensification of the bilateral cooperation, Ukraine plans to appoint a Permanent Representative to ASEAN in the near future.