Remarks by Chairman of ASEAN Committee Islamabad (ACI) Viet Nam’s Ambassador H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tien Phong On 55th Anniversary of ASEAN (29 August 2022)
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As-Salaam-Alaikum! Good Evening,
Dear H.E. Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Additional Secretary Asia Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan,
Excellencies, Ladies, Gentlemen, and Friends,
First of all, I wish to join my ASEAN Colleagues to express our profound and sincere thanks to Her Excellency Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for her presence and Keynote Speech at the Ceremony today. This is not only a great honor for ASEAN in general and ACI in particular but also sheds a bright light on the aim of enhancing ASEAN-Pakistan relations to a new level.
Our gratitude and deep thanks also go to Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Heads of Mission from the countries, and international organizations having partnership relations with ASEAN whose invaluable support, and cooperation have been remarkable contributions to the development of our Association.
We also truly appreciate the representatives from Pakistan’s Ministries, Provinces, Business circles, Academies, Medias who have been continuously dedicating their great efforts to ASEAN-Pakistan ties in all fields.
We thank you all for being here tonight to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of ASEAN.
We, ACI would like to take this opportunity to express our deep and profound sympathy, and condolences over the loss of nearly 1000 lives resulting from the unprecedented floods, and calamities in Sindh and Balochistan, and other provinces recently, we hope Pakistan and its people will soon overcome these natural catastrophes, together with the supports from friends and international organizations.
Since 8th August 1967 when ASEAN was established in Bangkok, Thai Lan, the Association witnessed and successfully responded, overcame many difficulties and challenges, and has been growing from strength to strength, developing itself in all fields and pillars.
The Association today has become one of the world’s most important, reputable, and successful regional organizations; a common home shared by 650 million people of the 10 nations with diverse cultural identities and many similarities.
ASEAN today is the fifth largest economic community in the world, a reliable and important partner of many countries; plays a central role in the important processes of dialogue, cooperation and integration in the region. ASEAN has enjoyed Dialogue Partnerships with 11 countries and international organizations, Sectoral Dialogue Partnerships with 6 Countries, and Development Partnerships with 4 countries.
The advancement of regional connectivity and economic linkage has always been a central, crucial core of the ASEAN’s integration process over the past 55 years. To date, intra-ASEAN trade accounts for 25% of ASEAN’s total trade turnover. Its GDP in 2021 was US$3.36 trillion, an increase of 30% since the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015.
In addition, ASEAN is also the heart of a broadening economic space through a network of 8 FTA, including the ASEAN Free Trade Area and seven FTAs with key partners. Notably, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has formed a free trade area encompassing 30% of the global population, and 32% of the world GDP.In 55 years of building and development, ASEAN took pride in itself to be a successful regional integration model.
Its achievements have constituted a strong foundation for ASEAN to fulfill the ASEAN Vision 2025 and to shape a post-2025 ASEAN Vision to further advance an ASEAN Community of solidarity, resilience and responsiveness.
ASEAN has remained true to its missions and goals. It has, therefore, brought into play its important roles in promoting dialogue, cooperation and confidence-building between the countries within and beyond the region with a view to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.
All the member countries stand as one to give priority to cooperation in the areas of anti- Covid 19 pandemic efforts, disaster relief, terrorism and transnational crime combat, maritime security, defence, peacekeeping, counter-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and disarmament; to attach great importance to dialogue, goodwill cooperation, mutual-trust and responsible contributions to the common goals of peace, security, stability and development through trust-building measures and preventive diplomacy, maintaining the nuclear-weapons-free Southeast Asia, inclusive processes for conflict resolutions.
In recognizing the opportunities and challenges facing our region, ASEAN has always stayed true to its path of self-reliance and steadfast in finding a balanced and harmonious approach. Its centrality is maintained without being swayed or drawn into the maelstroms in the region and the world.
ASEAN has also expressed and followed its consistent principles and strong commitments regionally and internationally for peace, stability and development with the basic of international laws, and of course by nature the sincerity, trust and responsibility are the first and foremost priorities in our ASEAN way.
From a loose group of nations with geopolitical, security, and ideological driving forces of mobilization, in the last 55 years of development, ASEAN has evolved into a Community of ten states encompassing political-security, economic, and socio-cultural pillars.
We share an ASEAN identity: that is CONSISTENCY in the Aims of security, stability, peace, developments, prosperity for ASEAN peoples; that is CONTINUITY in implementations and that is the ADAPTABILITY CAPACITY responding to the regional and international development. It is our UNITY IN DIVERSITY.
ASEAN has historical ties, friendly relations and long-standing multifaceted cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. ASEAN and Pakistan are making more and more efforts to promote stronger cooperation and linkage in all fields, including political, culture, science and technology, education and training, especially in trade and investment.
Trade volume between ASEAN and Pakistan reached approximately USD$ 11.0 billion in fiscal year 2022 and we do believe that this number will continue to increase rapidly in the coming years because the RCEP as well as new economic policies of Pakistan Government will create more favorable conditions for trade between the two sides, promoting the huge potential between ASEAN and Pakistan.
ASEAN appreciates Pakistan in resolving regional issues and achieving significant strides in advancing regional cooperation of Pakistan for further strengthening its multi-dimensional relations with Pakistan, including through enhanced connectivity and people-to-people contacts. We are supporting and hope Pakistan will contribute more in promoting and preserving peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Earlier this month, H.E. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the 29th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Regional Forum (ARF) as well met with other ASEAN counterparts in Phnom Penh that demonstrated commitment of Pakistan to further engagement with the region. This is greatly significant for boosting up the tie, creating new incentives and shed the lights and directions for the relations to be widened and deepened at present and in the near future.
With Pakistan (as with other partners also) we see and always try to figure out the commonalities for cooperation: 1) from the cultures: cloths, dressing, music, cuisine; 2) from religions: ASEAN we have Muslim, Buddhists, Catholics and others when Pakistan – the second biggest Muslim country, has also other religions, and was a very important part in the process of development and spreading of Buddhism to Southeast Asia and East Asia; and 3) the geographic position of SOUTH ASIA.
We, ASEAN in general as well as 7 members of ASEAN Committees in Islamabad (ACI), including Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are very confident that the relations between ASEAN and Pakistan are remaining huge potentials that need to be explored, realized and tapped into the growth and development resources of each side, especially in trade, economic cooperation, investment joint ventures.
To that goal, the first of the first is to raise mutual awareness and increase people-to-people contacts to unveil the commonalities and similarities mentioned above amone our people and citizen.
In relations among ASEAN and its partners in general and Pakistan in particular, we fully understand that the interdependence of the world nowadays is inevitable, that the interest of each nation-state/organization must respect the legitimate interest of other/s, grounded in international laws and the UN Charter, especially when international landscape is witnessing deep, rapid and unpredictable changes.
Thus, when our partner enjoys security, peace, and development then we ASEAN will, and vice versa.
All above shows that we share also the values of unity in diversity, the value of integrations and connectivities for development and strongly believe that we will share and move toward together.
We will turn the differences into complementary advantages for mutual benefits cooperation and development for the security, peace, and prosperity of our countries and people. We will be hands in hands together and be prosperous together.
Remarks by Chairman of ASEAN Committee Islamabad (ACI) Viet Nam’s Ambassador H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tien Phong On 55th Anniversary of ASEAN (29 August 2022)
