ISLAMABAD: The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on Wednesday held the second round of dialogue with the Asean Committee in Islamabad (ACI) comprising heads of missions of Asean member states.
The Asean delegation was led by the current ACI Chair, Philippines ambassador Maria Agnes M. Cervantes, while former foreign secretary and DG ISSI ambassador Sohail Mahmood led the ISSI team. The ISSI DG highlighted the special significance Pakistan attaches to Asean as part of its “Vision East Asia”.
While noting Asean’s standing as a global economic powerhouse and a successful model of regional cooperation, he underlined Pakistan’s growing engagement with the Asean member states, both bilaterally and on the institutional plane.
Among other things, he noted that the two-way trade volume between Pakistan and Asean had reached $11.8 billion, highlighting the potential for further growth with the $3 trillion economy of the region.
Tracing the history of Pakistan’s Sectoral Dialogue with the Asean, he emphasised the efforts being made for its elevation to Full Dialogue Partnership status.
“The institute plans to organise activities that help raise awareness about Asean and its global significance, strengthen mutual trade ties and economic collaboration, and promote academic and research linkages as part of people-to-people contacts.”
Dr Talat Shabbir, Director, China-Pakistan Study Centre ISSI, reminded that Pakistan and Asean share a longstanding and robust relationship.
“Pakistan’s strategic location as a bridge between South Asia and the Middle East complements Asean’s focus on trade and connectivity. The collaboration between Pakistan and Asean extends to diverse areas including agriculture, education, counterterrorism and development.”
Ambassador Maria Cervantes emphasised that the cooperation between Pakistan and Asean is important.
She acknowledged the importance Pakistan attaches to Full Dialogue Partnership with Asean and assured support in Pakistan’s efforts as well as those of the ISSI in this regard.
It was agreed that deepening Pakistan-Asean cooperation across diverse domains -- political and security, economic, and socio-cultural -- was the most desirable pathway.
It was further agreed to focus on special publications, promotion of exchanges between respective business communities, and strengthening of links between think-tanks on both sides.
The other members of the Asean delegation included Vietnam ambassador Nguyen Tien Phong, Aung Kyaw Thuya, Charge d’ Affaires of Myanmar; Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma, Charge d’ Affaires of Indonesia; Mohd Syafik Hassbullah, Charge d’ Affaires of Malaysia; Khairurrijal Hazim, Charge d’ Affaires of Brunei Darrusalam; and Gob Kamola, Charge d’ Affaires of Thailand. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman Board of Governors ISSI, also spoke.