The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) declared in the ASEAN Charter today that the group will rely on peaceful settlement of disputes with non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN member states.

The Charter, which transforms the ASEAN into a rules-based legal entity like the European Union, was signed by the bloc's 10 leaders today.

The Charter says in its Article 2, which describes the group's principles, that ASEAN will not take aggression or threat or use force in any manner inconsistent with international law.

ASEAN will "respect for the right of every member state to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion and coercion," the Charter says.

It says the ASEAN member countries will not participate in any policy or activity that threatens the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political and economic stability of ASEAN member states.

As a regional cooperation group, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.