Report: ANI
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and ASEAN have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral engagement through sustained dialogue, economic cooperation, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
The commitment was expressed at a special seminar titled “Pakistan and ASEAN: Navigating Our Future Together”, organized by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI) to mark the 59th ASEAN Day.
In his keynote address, Philippine Ambassador and current ACI Chair Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez said peace, security, prosperity and people empowerment remained central to ASEAN’s future. He emphasized that the organization’s political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars remained relevant to the evolving Pakistan-ASEAN partnership.
ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, in a video message, highlighted dialogue, economic and technological cooperation, connectivity and people-centered development as key areas for future collaboration.
Representatives of ASEAN member states expressed support for expanding cooperation with Pakistan in trade and investment, tourism, digital economy, cybersecurity, agriculture, food security and connectivity.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to ASEAN Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to stronger engagement with ASEAN and its aspiration for Full Dialogue Partnership. ISSI leadership also called for a broader, deeper and results-oriented partnership, including stronger business, academic and think-tank linkages.
