During the meeting, the two sides discussed developments in the Asian region, particularly the global financial crisis, consolidation of the democratic process, economic revival, and the success in tackling the issues of extremism and terrorism.
The meeting was co-chaired by Bagas Hapsoro, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs and Syed Hasan Javed, Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
They also reviewed the progress in many other areas of cooperation ranging from economics to social-cultural, and highlighted the emerging areas of cooperation.
The meeting, which was attended by representatives from the ASEAN Member States, Pakistan and the ASEAN Secretariat, also noted Pakistan`s support for their priorities an ASEAN Connectivity in all dimensions i.e. physical, institutional, and people-to-people connectivity and acknowledged that Pakistan may be a good link to connect ASEAN and the central Asian region.
Pakistan also mentioned that they would like to elevate their relationship with ASEAN and that they will continue to work closely with ASEAN to forge a closer cultural and economic cooperation. Several events have been organised to generate awareness and promote closer collaboration by the ASEAN Member States and Pakistan over the past years.
Overall, both sides agreed that the ASEAN-Pakistan Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee Meeting is an effective mechanism to promote the cooperation between them.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Trade and the National University of Science and Technology of Pakistan also made a presentation on new potential areas for cooperation between ASEAN and Pakistan.
The 6th Meeting of the ASEAN-Pakistan Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (APJSCC) will be held in late 2012. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) consists of Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, and Laos.
Pakistan is all set to further strengthen ties with ASEAN, said the Additional Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Syed Hasan Javed when calling on Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN, in the latter`s office after the conclusion of the Meeting.
Javed expressed his gratitude, on behalf of the Pakistani government to the ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat for successfully hosting the 5th APJSCC Meeting to review the ASEAN Pakistan relations and to further explore more areas for cooperation between the two regions - ASEAN and central Asia.
He also informed Dr Surin on Pakistan?s potentials including its rich natural resources and experience in economic recovery and offered Pakistan as a hub for ASEAN investors and traders in connecting their businesses with countries in central Asia.
Dr Surin welcomed Javed and his team to ASEAN Secretariat and thanked Pakistan for remaining committed to cooperation with ASEAN in the agreed areas. He further encouraged Pakistan to further focus on increasing trade and investment with ASEAN taking into account the vast potentials of both the regions for mutual benefit.
(Tx.F001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
