Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening Partnership with ASEAN

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with ASEAN member states. Speaking at the 9th Meeting of the ASEAN-Pakistan Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (AP-JSCC) in Jakarta on Wednesday evening, the ambassador noted that since becoming a Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 1993 and acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2004, Pakistan-ASEAN relations have grown steadily, underpinned by mutual respect, shared interests, and common aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity. “Pakistan greatly values its partnership with ASEAN,” Chaudhri stated. He highlighted that both Pakistan and ASEAN are home to young, dynamic, and fast-growing economies, presenting immense potential to expand cooperation in entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), education, and people-to-people exchanges. The ambassador noted that trade between Pakistan and ASEAN has reached nearly USD 11 billion (approximately Rp197 trillion), a figure he believes can be further increased. He also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, reflected in its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, and its dedication to the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, guided by respect for international law. “These principles continue to guide Pakistan’s foreign policy and were demonstrated through Pakistan’s active diplomacy and constructive mediation efforts during the recent conflict involving Iran and the US,” he added. Pakistan also reaffirmed its strong support for ASEAN centrality and the bloc’s vital role in promoting regional peace and cooperation, expressing hope for closer collaboration with all ASEAN member states in the future.