ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a special seminar titled “Pakistan and ASEAN: Navigating Our Future Together” called for a broader, deeper and forward-looking partnership between Pakistan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with greater focus on sustained dialogue, practical cooperation and enhanced connectivity.
The event was organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI) to commemorate the 59th ASEAN Day.
Delivering the keynote address, Ambassador of the Philippines and current Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad Dr Emmanuel R Fernandez said peace and security, prosperity and people empowerment remained at the heart of ASEAN’s future. He said ASEAN’s three pillars — political-security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation — remained relevant to the evolving Pakistan-ASEAN partnership.
Dr Fernandez noted that closer engagement between Pakistan and ASEAN could help address emerging regional challenges while creating new avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation.
In a special video message, ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Dato Astanah Abdul Aziz highlighted the strong foundation of ASEAN-Pakistan relations. She identified dialogue, economic and technological cooperation, connectivity, and people-to-people-centred development as key areas for future cooperation.
High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam Colonel (R) Pengiran Haji Kamal Bashah, Ambassador of Viet Nam Pham Anh Tuan, Ambassador of Myanmar Wunna Han, Ambassador of Thailand Rongvudhi Virabutr, Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Indonesia Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma, and First Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission at the High Commission of Malaysia Mohamad Alif Syafiq Bin Mohd Faudzi reaffirmed the importance attached to Pakistan as a longstanding partner.
They expressed support for further deepening Pakistan-ASEAN relations and expanding practical cooperation in trade and investment, tourism, digital economy and cybersecurity, agriculture and food security, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to ASEAN Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening engagement with ASEAN and its aspiration for Full Dialogue Partnership. Haseen Fatima, Deputy Director, East Asia and Pacific Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted the steady expansion of institutional cooperation and the scope for translating existing frameworks into tangible outcomes.
In his welcome remarks, ISSI Director General Ambassador Moin-ul-Haque described ASEAN as an important model of regional cooperation and called for a more substantive and results-oriented Pakistan-ASEAN relationship. He drew attention to opportunities offered by ASEAN’s regional economic integration, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and proposed a dedicated ISSI engagement with Pakistan’s business community to enhance awareness of emerging opportunities and facilitate stronger economic linkages.
Earlier, in his introductory remarks, Director CPSC Dr Talat Shabbir called for sustained engagement and greater mutual understanding between Pakistan and ASEAN.
In his concluding remarks, ISSI Board of Governors Chairman Ambassador Khalid Mahmood called for a broader, deeper and forward-looking Pakistan-ASEAN partnership, supported by stronger institutional, academic, business and think-tank linkages.
The seminar reaffirmed the shared commitment to advancing Pakistan-ASEAN relations through sustained dialogue, practical cooperation and enhanced connectivity. It brought together heads of mission and representatives of ASEAN member states, as well as members of academia and the media.
