WELLINGTON, May 9 (Xinhuanet) -- New Zealand has decided in principle to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced here Monday.

    Helen Clark made the announcement following talks with the Prime Minister of Viet Nam, Phan Van Khai, who is in New Zealand as part of a five-day visit marking 30 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Viet Nam.

    "The government will submit the text of the Treaty, with a National Interest Analysis, to Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee for consideration," said Helen Clark.

    The TAC was signed in 1976 by the five original ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand - and at the time designed to strengthen ASEAN solidarity in Asia during the Cold War era.

    Signatories now include all 10 members of ASEAN, as well as a number of ASEAN Dialogue Partners including China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Russia.

    Helen Clark said accession to the Treaty would send a signal of New Zealand's commitment to closer engagement with ASEAN and with Asia more generally.

    This year is the 30th anniversary of New Zealand's relations with ASEAN. Accession by New Zealand would be very timely, said Helen Clark.

    "A careful study has been made of the obligations arising under the Treaty. Accession is not expected to constrain New Zealand in the conduct of its foreign policy," said Helen Clark. Enditem