ASEAN Values Relations With Pakistan, Says Malaysian Envoy

NEW DELHI, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) values its relations with Pakistan and there is immense potential to further build trade ties and people-to-people linkages, Malaysia's High Commissioner to Pakistan Mohammad Azhar Mazlan said.

Azhar, who also heads the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI), made these remarks at an event celebrating ASEAN Day.

Since the ASEAN-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into effect in 2013, the two sides have grown their engagement significantly in various areas, including trade and investment, agriculture, tourism capacity building, and technical cooperation, he said.

He said trade between ASEAN and Pakistan "approached a significant milestone" of US$11 billion in 2022.

The two sides should benefit from their combined young dynamic population of 660 million to build closer educational and cultural relations, Azhar said.

He noted that ASEAN-Pakistan cooperation is based on the Southeast Asian bloc's three pillars of political security community, economic community and the socio-cultural community.

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan was the chief guest at the event.

Earlier, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry in a message described ASEAN as "a central pillar of regional architecture" and said the nation shares ASEAN's vision of amity and cooperation with countries in the Asia Pacific region.

"Pakistan desires a strong and successful Southeast Asia, which is critical for the stability and development of our entire continent. The more connected and united we are, the more able we would be in overcoming our collective challenges and prospering together as a region," the statement said.

-- BERNAMA