SINGAPORE, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) stressed in the ASEAN Charter adopted here Tuesday that ASEAN member states shall have equal rights and obligations under the Charter.

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

Under the Charter, the member states of ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Charter says the ASEAN member states shall take all necessary measures, including the enactment of appropriate domestic legislation, to effectively implement the provisions of the Charter and to comply with all obligations of membership.

However, the Charter does not mention penalty measures to errant members, only saying serious breach of the Charter shall be referred to the ASEAN summit for decision.

The Charter says the admission to ASEAN will be prescribed by the ASEAN Coordinating Council and based on the following criteria:

-- location in the recognized geographical region of Southeast Asia;

-- recognition by all ASEAN member states;

-- agreement to be bound and to abide by the Charter; and

-- ability and willingness to carry out the obligations of membership

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