The Chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI) and the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan Ambassador Mohammad Azhar Mazlan has commended Pakistan’s pivotal role within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), emphasizing that member countries greatly value Pakistan’s partnership and its support in ASEAN’s efforts towards community building. “I am confident that this partnership would spur deeper engagements and interactions between ASEAN and Pakistan in meaningful cooperation across three pillars of ASEAN namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community; the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community,” he said while addressing the occasion of the 56th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Islamabad. The gathering was also attended by the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Dr. Asad Majeed, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan and ASEAN Heads of Mission. He said ASEAN-Pakistan cooperation has extended in various sectors, among others, in trade and investment, agriculture, education, culture and tourism, capacity building, and technical cooperation. “I would like to cite the ASEAN-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, which took effect in 2013, as a testament to the strengthened economic ties between ASEAN and Pakistan” he added. The HC said, in 2022, the total trade between ASEAN and Pakistan approached a significant milestone of USD 11 billion. Amb. Mazlan extended his heartfelt appreciation to all those who have contributed to the remarkable success of the ASEAN-Pakistan partnership. With an optimistic outlook, he emphasized the potential for a brighter and more promising shared future. Reflecting on the genesis of ASEAN 56 years ago, Amb. Mazlan emphasized the organization’s pivotal role in maintaining regional peace, security, and stability. He recalled the historic meeting of Foreign Ministers from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, where they signed the ASEAN Declaration, laying the foundation for ASEAN’s subsequent development into a highly effective intergovernmental body.
He stressed that ASEAN, with an aggregate GDP exceeding USD 3 trillion, is poised to become the fourth-largest economy globally by 2050. He also noted ASEAN’s attractiveness as a magnet for foreign direct investment, a testament to its successful regional economic integration. Mr. Mazlan highlighted the significance of the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in November 2020 with five trading partners, which further solidified ASEAN’s status as a model of “open regionalism.” Acknowledging the positive impact of cultural and people-to-people exchanges, including initiatives like the ASEAN Cultural Festival and educational scholarships.
