Asia will Rise thanks to the Economic Development of ASEAN – Pakistan to Strengthen Cooperation: Hina Rabbani Khar

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Tazeen Akhtar
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has said, ” Pakistan can learn a lot from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) with respect to shared prosperity, peace, and integrity. Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with ASEAN and member countries. Pakistan is working on strengthening cooperation with ASEAN. Asia will rise thanks to the economic development of ASEAN. Pakistan is hopeful for becoming a full dialogue partner of this important block.”
She was addressing the envoys of member countries of ASEAN in Islamabad at a reception hosted by the Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad, Ambassador of Viet Nam H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tien Phong On the 55th Anniversary of ASEAN. The envoys of member countries, H.E Adam M Tugio of Indonesia, Deddy Faisal of Malaysia, Usman of Brunei, and Ambassadors of Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines were also present on the occasion.
Director General Asia Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan, Ms. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was among the prominent guests. Dean of Diplomatic Corp, Ambassador Turkmenistan H.E Atadjan Movlamov, Ambassadors of the USA H.E David Blome, Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea also attended the reception.
The Minister further shared, ” ASEAN is like a beacon of light that how a region can come together with a view to getting goals of peace and prosperity. Over the last 55 years, ASEAN has transformed itself into a vibrant and integrated economic platform.”
“Pakistan shares the ASEAN vision of cooperation. ASEAN offers huge business opportunities and it was in the interest of both partners that bilateral and multilateral cooperation is given new dimensions. Pakistan’s relations with the ASEAN are time-tested and old” She concluded.
Pakistan became the sectoral partner of ASEAN in 1993 and since then bilateral relations are constantly improving. Pakistan acceded to the Treaty of Amity during a conference held in Jakarta in 2004 and in the same year Pakistan also became part of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad, Ambassador of Viet Nam H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tien Phong, in his keynote address, expressed condolences and sympathy from all member envoys on the loss of lives in the floods. He was hopeful that Pakistan will soon overcome the damages with the help of friends and international organizations.
Mr. Phong said,” The speech of Minister Hina Rabbani Khar sheds a bright light on the aim of enhancing ASEAN-Pakistan relations to a new level. Trade volume between ASEAN and Pakistan reached approximately USD$ 11.0 billion in the 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 the Pakistan Government, will create more favorable conditions for trade between the two sides, promoting the huge potential between ASEAN and Pakistan.”
” 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 have 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.”
Ambassador Viet Nam recalled, ” 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.”
The magnificent hall of Serena Hotels Islamabad was decorated with stalls of member countries where the participants took a keen interest in the cultural and traditional items displayed. The diversity of ASEAN countries was also available to taste at the food stalls for which the spouses of the envoys worked very hard.
Cultural presentations by artists from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand were also part of the reception to the amusement of the participants.

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