Pakistan consistent with ‘Vision East Asia’

Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood has said that Pakistan is continuing a consistent ‘Vision East Asia’ policy to strengthen its partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in all spheres.

The foreign secretary expressed these views in a keynote address at the Experts Dialogue on ‘Pakistan-ASEAN: Shared Future and the Way Forward’, co-organized by the Embassy of Indonesia and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), a press release stated on Friday.

Noting the steady trajectory of Pakistan-ASEAN relations, the secretary underlined the high priority accorded by Pakistan to its relations with South East Asian nations and its recognition of ASEAN’s vast economic potential and centrality in the regional architecture.

He specifically stressed the importance of forging closer cooperation in political, economic, security, tourism, education and socio-cultural domains. The official highlighted the range of steps taken by Pakistan to foster multifaceted engagement with ASEAN and the commitment to deepen trade and economic linkages with its member states.