ISLAMABAD: The China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on Wednesday hosted a roundtable conference titled “Pakistan and ASEAN: A Growing Partnership” in celebration of ASEAN Day.
The event was attended by Heads of Missions from ASEAN member states in Islamabad and Pakistan’s Heads of Missions in ASEAN capitals. Ambassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), was the Chief Guest.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General of ISSI, and Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director of CPSC, also participated, with Dr. Shabbir moderating the session. The event was attended by prominent civil servants, diplomats, academics, civil society members, and media representatives.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the strengthening partnership between Pakistan and ASEAN, emphasizing collaborative efforts with the MoFA and the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI). He recognized the leadership of ACI, chaired by Col. (Retd) Pengiran Haji Kamal Bashah Bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad, and the significant contributions of ASEAN Heads of Missions.
Ambassador Mahmood underscored ASEAN’s global importance, noting its substantial economic impact with a GDP of $3.67 trillion and its strategic role in regional stability and economic integration, including through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
He elaborated on Pakistan’s longstanding engagement with ASEAN as its oldest Sectoral Dialogue Partner and the growing scope of collaboration in trade, counter-terrorism, security, and people-to-people exchanges, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $11 billion in 2022.
He stressed the need to accelerate progress by implementing Practical Cooperation Areas (PCA) and exploring links with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and advocated for elevating the partnership to Full Dialogue status. Ambassador Mahmood reaffirmed ISSI’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan-ASEAN relations through ongoing dialogues, the ‘ASEAN Corner’, and the ISSI-ASEAN think-tank network.
Col. (Retd) Pengiran Haji Kamal Bashah Bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad, Chairman of ACI and High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam, emphasized ASEAN’s dedication to stability, cooperation, diversity, and inclusivity. Ambassador Mohammad Azhar Mazlan of Malaysia highlighted the robust bilateral trade reaching $1.5 billion in 2023-24.
Ambassador Maria Agnes M. Cervantes of the Philippines addressed the severe impact of climate change on both countries, advocating for strong climate action with ASEAN’s support. Ambassador Wunna Han of Myanmar and Ambassador Pham Anh Tuan of Vietnam discussed the multifaceted relationships and longstanding ties between ASEAN and Pakistan, including in education, culture, and regional cooperation. Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma, Charge d’Affaires of Indonesia, and Ms. Kamolawan Sriposil, Charge d’Affaires of Thailand, also spoke about the growing relations between Pakistan and ASEAN.
Muhammad Faisal provided an academic perspective, noting ASEAN’s success in fostering regional economic support and its valuable lessons for South Asia. He called for enhanced dialogue partnerships and bilateral cooperation.
Pakistani Heads of Missions in ASEAN capitals also contributed to the discussion. Ambassador Ameer Khurram Rathore to Indonesia highlighted ASEAN’s critical importance for Pakistan. Ambassador Zaheeruddin Babar in Cambodia discussed growing bilateral trade and efforts to establish a Cambodian mission in Islamabad.
High Commissioner Syed Ahsan Raza Shah in Malaysia noted the increase in Malaysian tourists and investment. High Commissioner Rabia Shafiq in Singapore emphasized the strategic importance of strong relations with Singapore as a gateway to the ASEAN market.
Chief Guest Ambassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui praised ASEAN’s achievements over its 57-year history and the successful cooperation among member states toward the vision of “One Vision, One Identity, One Community.”
He highlighted the potential for Pakistan to deepen its collaboration with ASEAN across trade, economic, political, security, and cultural domains, including shared heritage such as the Gandhara Civilization and Islamic culture. Future cooperation areas identified include tourism, climate change, counter-terrorism, combating Islamophobia, and cybersecurity.
The roundtable concluded with remarks from Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the ISSI Board of Governors, who emphasized ASEAN’s role in promoting connectivity, trade, and investment in Southeast Asia and beyond. Dr. Talat Shabbir highlighted Pakistan’s status as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner since 1993 and its efforts to achieve a Full Dialogue Partnership under the “Vision East Asia” policy.
