Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan, together with six other ASEAN member states in the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI), recently held a series of activities celebrating ASEAN’s 58th founding anniversary (August 8), while fostering bilateral ties with Pakistan.
The festivities kicked off with a roundtable discussion co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), themed “Pakistan and ASEAN: Partners in Peace, Progress, and Regional Prosperity”. The event drew ASEAN heads of mission in Islamabad, senior Pakistani officials, scholars, media, Pakistani ambassadors to ASEAN nations, and ASEAN Secretariat officials joining virtually from Jakarta.
In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Anh Tuan underscored Vietnam’s active and proactive role in advancing ASEAN’s goals of peace, progress, and prosperity. He highlighted ACI’s ongoing engagement with Pakistani agencies, scholars, and businesses on key issues like trade, investment, climate change, and environmental protection.
Keynote speaker Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional Secretary for Asia-Pacific at Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, praised ASEAN’s 58-year accomplishments and supported its shared vision of “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. He shared opportunities to expand Pakistan–ASEAN cooperation in trade, economy, politics, security, and socio-cultural exchanges underpinned by shared heritage from the Gandhara civilisation and Islamic culture.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, ISSI Director General, pointed to robust growth in Pakistan–ASEAN relations, noting a record 23% surge in trade in 2024 to an all-time high of over 11 billion USD. He noted new cooperation prospects under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
On the second day, a ceremony marking the anniversary in Islamabad featured Pakistani Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi as the chief guest, with Myanmar Ambassador Wunna Han, the current ACI Chair, presiding.
Minister Khichi hailed ASEAN as “a model of regional transformation” and a source of inspiration for developing nations, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to deepening ties as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner since 1993 under its “Vision East Asia” policy. He highlighted Pakistan’s strengths in digital innovation, agriculture, climate resilience, public health, poverty reduction, and gender equality, while praising the Pakistani community in ASEAN for fostering people-to-people links. He also expressed optimism about elevating Pakistan’s status to a full ASEAN Dialogue Partner.
Ambassador Han acknowledged Pakistan as ASEAN’s first and longest-standing Sectoral Dialogue Partner, spotlighting the 2024–2028 Practical Cooperation Areas programme, which includes 31 initiatives across ASEAN’s three pillars, with nearly 30% already underway in areas like cultural exchange, pandemic response, and poverty reduction. Emerging cooperation areas include tourism, climate change adaptation, counter-terrorism, and cybersecurity.
The celebrations wrapped up with cultural and culinary showcases of ASEAN member states, featuring traditional dishes and national specialties. A standout event was a joint ASEAN–Pakistan fashion show, co-hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy and Pakistan’s Niftysphere Institute of Arts and Design, showcasing a vibrant, diverse, and united ASEAN committed to fostering friendship and solidarity with Pakistan./.
