BEIJING, Oct 20: Pakistan gets fair opportunities to take part in economic activities undertaken by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Asean has a sectoral dialogue relation with Pakistan which joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and the Asean Regional Forum in July 2004.
In an interview with APP, a senior official of the association said the two sides had wide scope to develop cooperation under regional and bilateral framework in the areas like science, technology, education, environment and counter-terrorism.
It was agreed at the last ministerial-level meeting that a feasibility study on expanding Asean-Pakistan economic relations be undertaken. He expressed the hope that a necessary work to this effect would be completed as early as possible.
Relations between Asean and its dialogue partners, including China, Japan and South Korea, have kept on broadening and deepening in various spheres, in economic areas in particular.
The ties between Asean and its dialogue partners have become ever more substantial with an increasing number of specific cooperation projects and initiatives being implemented.
At the 8th consultation between economic ministers from Asean+3 held in Laos in late September, reaffirming the role of Asean+3 process as the main vehicle for the eventual establishment of an East Asian community, the delegates agreed that all economic cooperation projects and initiatives should have a common vision toward the community.
The Plus Three countries reiterated their support for the block’s role as the major driving force in East Asia cooperation.
To foster the cooperation, Asean+3 have carried out a large number of short-term as well as medium- and long-term measures, including the establishment of the East Asia Business Council, the East Asia Forum, the Network of East Asian Think-tanks, and the upcoming organization of the first East Asia Summit in December in Malaysia.—APP
