ASEAN flag hoisting ceremony held in Pakistan

Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremony to raise the ASEAN flag on the occasion of the bloc’s 49 th founding anniversary (August 8) was held in Pakistan on August 8 under the chair of Chairman of the ASEAN Islamabad Committee (AIC) Ambassador Nguyen Xuan Luu.

The event was attended by Pakistani diplomats, ambassadors and high commissioners of ASEAN member nations, which have diplomatic agencies in Pakistan.

In his speech at the ceremony, Ambassador Luu highlighted ASEAN’s prominent development phases over the last 49 years and important milestones in the ASEAN-Pakistan relations.

ASEAN achieved remarkable successes along its development process, becoming a bright point in cooperation and friendship, solidarity and mutual trust, he said.

He added that the bloc’s operation always bases on the spirit of solidarity and unity in diversity among its member states, and this makes up strength of the forum.

According to the Ambassador, ASEAN - a community with the population of 600 million people, ranked seventh in terms of GDP and third in workforce globally. It becomes a crucial factor and an indispensible partner in Asia Pacific .

Meanwhile, special Advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tarip Fatemi said his country wishes to develop multifaceted relations with ASEAN member nations, especially in trade.

Pakistan hopes to early become a f ull dialogue partnership (FDP) with the bloc, a vital cooperation mechanism in the region, he added.-VNA