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PR. No.244/2008

Date: 08/08/2008    

41st ANNIVERSARY OF ASEAN  - REMARKS BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Following are the Foreign Minister’s remarks delivered at the ceremony, held at the Indonesian Embassy today, to mark the 41st Anniversary of ASEAN:

Excellency Pehin Colonel Abdul Jalil Ahmad,
Chairman ASEAN Islamabad Committee,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

It gives me great pleasure to congratulate ASEAN-Islamabad Committee for organizing this auspicious ceremony to mark the 41st anniversary of ASEAN. The theme of “One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia” befits this vibrant organization which has been a driving force for other regional organizations in Asia and beyond.

The government and people of Pakistan cherish their friendly and cooperative relationship with ASEAN countries, which is rooted in shared values, history and culture. We have common aspirations for peace, prosperity and development.

ASEAN as a dynamic regional forum has transformed South East Asia as fast growing region. Its leadership and people have shown incredible prudence, determination and political will to build strong, vibrant and homogenous region. ASEAN Vision 2020, which envisages creation of an ASEAN economic community, ASEAN socio-cultural community and ASEAN security community, reflects the commitment of ASEAN people to create harmonious, prosperous, secure and well-integrated societies.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with ASEAN. Based on our historic relations with individual states our ‘Vision East Asia’ policy has strengthened our political, security, economic and cultural ties with ASEAN. Our relations with ASEAN as one of the foremost foreign policy objective, focuses on upgradation of our linkages with your countries at bilateral and regional planes.

 As part of this policy, we have had a number of high level exchanges with the ASEAN countries. The focus in our interaction has been to under-pin our strong political relationship with economic, trade and cultural ties.

Excellencies,
I believe that major headway has been made in upgradation of our relations with ASEAN. Pakistan acquired ARF membership in 2004, acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and signed a Joint Declaration to Combat Terrorism with ASEAN. On the bilateral front, institutionalized cooperation in economic and political areas has been strengthened with all the ASEAN countries. In our view the stage is now set for Pakistan to become a Full Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.

We look forward to establish durable, comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership with the ASEAN. There are complementarities in our economies and we wish to exploit those to our mutual advantage. We need to enhance our efforts to conclude Pak-ASEAN Free Trade Pact, at the earliest. We need to interact on the issues like food and oil security, to tackle the emerging threats to our growth and the welfare of our masses. We need to make concerted efforts to alleviate poverty in our region.

The democratically elected government in Pakistan is taking all necessary steps to strengthen our business and investment-base, by bringing political stability. Pakistan offers a number of investment opportunities in infrastructure, telecommunications, energy, oil and gas, services, agriculture, information technology and other fields. Our government intends to facilitate all kinds of joint ventures by opening up of our markets and develop infrastructure.

The ASEAN countries can position themselves in Pakistan and avail access not only to our domestic market but also take full advantage of our geographical proximity to Central Asia and the Middle East. We are prepared to provide all facilities to assist ASEAN entrepreneurs to benefit from the large market in Pakistan and beyond.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Pakistan cherishes its relationship with ASEAN countries. We believe that there is a need to take steps to make best use of the opportunities and potential available to us.  Pakistan and ASEAN have common aims of creating open, dynamic and resilient communities. We are to work closely and in an integrated way to the establishment of more public and private linkages, better cultural understanding and cooperation in diverse fields. 

In the end, I would once again like to congratulate all our friends from ASEAN and look forward to a more prosperous and cohesive ASEAN.         

Thank You.

Islamabad
08 August 2008