Southeast Asian countries set to sign pact on visa exemption

Vietnam visa

Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to sign a framework agreement on mutual visa exemption later this month.  

 The pact was to be signed at the 39th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Kuala Lumpur on July 24-28, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Tuesday.

The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Visa Exemption was one of the four key documents to be signed at the AMM gathering, he added.

It was “in line with the desire to build an ASEAN Community which would encourage free movements of people between member countries,” he told the press conference held after chairing a preparatory meeting.

During the 39th AMM, the 13th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the 7th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting and other side events will also take place.

Founded in 1967, ASEAN currently has 10 members, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Source: VNA