The European Union joined other international organizations that have recognized the legal personality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is trying to build a regional economic community.

The ASEAN became a legal entity when its charter took effect last Dec. 15, following ratification by its 10 members: the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Burma or Myanmar.

The EU issued a statement welcoming the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter.

The charter defines a new institutional framework, and marks an important stage in the process of regional integration in Southeast Asia, it said.

We share ?the common values and principles of ASEAN member states set out in the charter, particularly the promotion of democracy and human rights,? the EU said.

?The charter will serve to reinforce links between the European Union and ASEAN,? it said, adding that it and several member states had announced their intention to accredit ambassadors to the ASEAN.

Countries with candidate membership in the EU have also expressed similar intentions, including Turkey and Croatia, as well as ?potential candidates? Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine, Armenia and Georgia.

Last week, ASEAN secretary general Surin Pitsuwan welcomed the appointment of Kim Ho-young as the South Korean ambassador to ASEAN.

Kim concurrently is South Korea?s ambassador to Indonesia.

?ASEAN and the Republic of Korea enjoy good dialog relations in many fields,? Surin said. ?Both sides are implementing free trade agreement in trade in goods and will next implement an FTA [Free Trade Area arrangement] in trade in services.?

South Korea is the fifth country to appoint an ambassador to ASEAN after the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Ronnel W. Domingo; edited by INQUIRER.net