Pakistan expressed its eagerness to collaborate with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to ensure a peaceful and stable Asia Pacific. The statement came from Pakistani caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Monday during the inauguration of the ASEAN Corner at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).
ASEAN is a regional intergovernmental organization founded in 1967 to promote political and economic cooperation among its member states. The association aims to accelerate economic growth, foster social progress, and ensure regional stability. ASEAN comprises 10 countries located in Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. The organization serves as a platform for its members to collaborate on various issues ranging from trade and tourism to defense and diplomacy, enabling them to speak with a unified voice on the international stage.
Jilani emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining special relations with ASEAN nations. He pointed out the need for collective action to tackle challenges such as climate change and terrorism. Moreover, he called for the avoidance of bloc politics that do not align with the diverse geographical and cultural landscapes of the Asia-Pacific region.
Sohail Mahmood, the director general of ISSI, underscored the importance of strengthening both hard and soft connectivity between ASEAN and Pakistan. He specifically mentioned the role of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in this context.
Initiated in 2013, CPEC is a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, connecting Gwadar port in southwestern Pakistan with Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and focusing on energy, transport, and industrial collaboration.
Source : The Media Line
