August 09, 2008	Saturday	Sha’aban 6, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday that Pakistan had institutionalised cooperation in economic and political areas with the countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) on a bilateral basis and the stage was now set for it to become a ‘full dialogue partner’ of the regional forum.

“We look forward to establish durable, comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership with the Asean. There are complementarities in our economies and we wish to exploit those to our mutual advantage.”

Speaking at a ceremony held at the Indonesian embassy here to mark the 41st anniversary of the association, the foreign minister said that Asean countries could position themselves in Pakistan and besides accessing the domestic market take full advantage of its geographical proximity to Central Asia and the Middle East. “We are prepared to provide all facilities to assist Asean entrepreneurs to benefit from the large market in Pakistan and beyond.”

He said the government and the people of Pakistan cherished their friendly and cooperative relationship with Asean countries, rooted in shared values, history and culture. “We have common aspirations for peace, prosperity and development.”

He said Asean as a dynamic regional forum had transformed South East Asia into a fast growing region.

He said Pakistan and the Asean had common aims of creating open, dynamic and resilient communities. “We are to work closely and in an integrated way to the establishment of more public and private linkages, better cultural understanding and cooperation in diverse fields.”

He said Pakistan had made a major headway in upgrading its relations with Asean, had acquired the ARF membership in 2004, acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and signed a Joint Declaration to Combat Terrorism with the Asean.

Mr Qureshi said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with the Asean and added that Pakistan’s ‘Vision East Asia’ policy had strengthened its political security, economic and cultural ties with the Asean.

“Our relations with Asean as one of the foremost foreign policy objectives, focuses on upgrading our linkages with your countries at bilateral and regional planes.”