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ISLAMABAD, Aug 09 (APP): Acting Chairman of ASEAN Committee in Islamabad, Wunna Han has said that Pakistan is the “Longest Dialogue Partner of ASEAN” countries in the region and relations between Pakistan and ASEAN will be more sustainable in the future.
The ASEAN was founded on August 8th 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand and so, today is exactly the 58th Anniversary of the ASEAN, the Ambassador said.
Acting Chairman of ASEAN Committee in Islamabad, Ambassador of Myanmar to Pakistan, Wunna Han said this while addressing the “58th Anniversary of ASEAN” here in a local hotel.
Every commemoration is to reflect what “we have achieved so far and we pay our tribute to the founding fathers and successive leadership of this successful regional organization and their dreams and their visions” , he said.
Upon ASEAN-Pakistan relations, he said that “we value our partnership with Pakistan and Pakistan is 1st and foremost, and longest, “Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.”
The Ambassador said that Pakistan signed the ‘Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)’ in 2004 and was admitted as the 24th participant of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) which is a very important forum to address regional peace and security issues.
“We appreciate and value Pakistan’s active participation in ARF towards regional peace and security.”
“I congratulate Pakistan for being re-elected as the non-permanent member of United Nations Security Council (2025-2026) with a majority of 182 votes out of 193 UN member states in the UN General Assembly and it is an amazing and commendable achievement. This reflects Pakistan’s respected role in multilateralism and commitment to the UN Charter’s principles. Successfully completed the task as Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July,” he said.
Acting Chairman ACI said that under the ASEAN-Pakistan Sectoral Dialogue relations, both side have been implemented many collaborations and cooperation projects under the ASEAN-Pakistan Practical Cooperation Areas, PCA 2019-2021 and 2022 to 2023 and currently PCA 2024-2028 which include initiatives such as Scholarship programs under Pakistan Technical Assistance Program for students from ASEAN, Promotion of cultural exchanges and site visits of common cultural heritage, Sharing expertise on the handling of pandemics, Sharing expertise for poverty alleviation by the Benazir Income Support Program, Capacity building programs on Diplomacy and e-governance.
“We would like to work closely with Pakistan to tap the full potential of the partnership for mutual benefit. I would like to encourage Pakistan to support our ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its strategic plans. At the same time, continue to actively undertake practical cooperation with ASEAN, across key areas of cooperation, such as implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC), Initiative of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network, ASEAN’s sustainable development initiatives, and collaboration with ASEAN Centres of excellence.”
The Ambassador said that ASEAN nowadays is a strong and successful regional organization with 10 countries of Southeast Asian Nations combined together of 690 Million people and GDP of 4.12 Trillion USD estimated for this year 2025 standing as 5th largest economy of the world.
He said that the 58 years journey of ASEAN has gone through and overcomes so many challenges, crises and hard times and if you look at each country of ASEAN you can see how diverse it is among our 10 countries of its member states.
“We have different cultures, different religions, different political systems and especially different levels of economic growth.”
When ASEAN was founded nearly 60 years ago, it only had 5 original founding member countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, he added.
He added that ASEAN nowadays is not only surviving but it is thriving and expanding and soon in the very near future, Timor-Leste will be joining us as the newest and 11th Member State of ASEAN.
It fulfills the dream of the founding fathers of ASEAN that one day ASEAN will be united as all of Southeast Asia will be together as one. As the motto of ASEAN “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”, he said.
The Acting Chairman said that the main reason why ASEAN is united and going stronger is “we respect and practice based on guiding principles of ASEAN which is mutual respect among each other member state for their independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all member states.”
Also, the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other states and peaceful settlement of disputes are core tenets of ASEAN. These principles guide us in shaping our interactions and operations through consultation and consensus. We are 10 countries with very diverse regions. We always proudly say that “Unity in diversity”.
He said that “I take this opportunity to commend Malaysia Current Chair of ASEAN, for always coming up with new visions and initiatives. In 1997 when we joined the ASEAN, at that time, also Malaysia was Chair of the ASEAN, we adopted ASEAN Vision 2020.”
Recently, in May this year, again under the Chairmanship of Malaysia at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, ASEAN have adopted ASEAN Community Vision 2045, “Our Shared Future,” and reaffirmed ASEAN commitment to building a resilient, innovative, dynamic, people-centred ASEAN, he said
It is an ambitious 20-year strategic roadmap for ASEAN and this roadmap will be implemented on regional peace, prosperity, and cooperation, and focuses on issues like energy transition, digital transformation, climate change, and emerging technologies, he said.