Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening Partnership with ASEAN
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ambassador of Pakistan to Indonesia, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with ASEAN countries.
“Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to strengthening its partnership with ASEAN,” stated Ambassador Chaudhri during the reception for the 9th Meeting of the ASEAN-Pakistan Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (AP-JSCC) in Jakarta on Wednesday evening.
According to him, since becoming an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 1993 and joining the ASEAN Regional Forum in 2004, Pakistan-ASEAN relations have continued to evolve, supported by mutual respect, shared interests, and common aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity.
“Pakistan greatly values its partnership with ASEAN,” he said.
He noted that both Pakistan and ASEAN are home to young, dynamic, and rapidly growing economies.
“Together, we possess immense potential to expand cooperation in entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), education, and people-to-people exchanges,” he added.
He explained that the current trade value between Pakistan and ASEAN has reached nearly US$11 billion (approximately IDR 197 trillion), and he believes this figure has the potential to continue increasing.
Furthermore, the Ambassador stated that Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace is also reflected through its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2004.
Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, and believes that sustainable peace can only be achieved through respect for international law.
“These principles continue to guide Pakistan’s foreign policy and have been demonstrated through Pakistan’s active diplomacy and constructive mediation efforts during recent conflicts involving Iran and the US,” he said.
He added that Pakistan also reaffirms its strong support for ASEAN Centrality and the vital role of ASEAN in promoting regional peace and cooperation.
“We look forward to working closely with all ASEAN member states to build a stronger partnership in the future,” he concluded.