ARTICLE XXV

Entry into Force and Duration

1.After the completion of its internal legal procedures for the entry into force of this Memorandum of Understanding, each ASEAN Member State shall give written notification to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, who shall, immediately notify China when all of the ASEAN Member States have finished the said procedures.

2.After the completion of its internal legal procedures for the entry into force of this Memorandum of Understanding, China shall give written notification to the Secretary-General of ASEAN.

3.This Memorandum of Understanding shall enter into force upon receipt of the last written notification is received. The Secretary- General of ASEAN shall notify ASEAN Member States of the entry into force of this Memorandum of Understanding.

4.This Memorandum of Understanding shall remain in force for a period of five years, and thereafter may be extended by decision of the Joint Council.

This Memorandum of Understanding shall be deposited with both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the ASEAN Secretariat. The Secretary-General of ASEAN shall promptly furnish a certified true copy to all ASEAN Member States.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto by the respective Governments of the ASEAN Member States and the People’s Republic of China, have signed this Memorandum of Understanding.

DONE at Cha-Am Hua Hin on the Twenty Fifth Day of October of the Year Two Thousand and Nine, in duplicate in the English and Chinese language. In the event of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.