The fifth Meeting of the ASEAN-Pakistan Joint Sectoral Dialogue Cooperation Committee (ASJSCC) will be held in Jakarta on May 31.
Additional Foreign Secretary (Asia Pacific) Syed Hasan Javed will lead the Pakistan delegation. “The Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, Bagas Hapsoro will lead the ASEAN delegation, which will include members from 10 ASEAN countries,” said a foreign office statement issued here.
Pakistan was accorded the Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN status in July 1993. Cooperation between ASEAN and Pakistan extends to Trade, Industry, investment, Environment, Science and Technology, Tourism, Drugs and Narcotics Control, and Human Resource Development.
“Pakistan is a signatory to the Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat Terrorism with ASEAN. We actively participate in ARF, ASEM and other related fora. Since 2006, we have executed an ASEAN-Pakistan Fund. Pakistan’s trade with ASEAN region has crossed $5 billion and the results of a feasibility study for ASEAN-Pakistan FTA have been encouraging,” the statement said.
It said, “Pakistan places great emphasis on its relations with ASEAN and has been endeavouring to enhance mutually beneficial collaboration with the dynamic economies of South East Asia.”
The Fifth APJSCC meeting will provide Pakistan an opportunity to strengthen its relations with ASEAN countries.