Remarks by DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood at Special Roundtable
“Pakistan and ASEAN: Partners in Peace, Progress, and Regional Prosperity”
ISSI, 7 August 2025
Let me begin by warmly welcoming everyone to the ISSI for this special Round Table to commemorate the 58th ASEAN Day. This celebration is not only an opportunity to reflect on ASEAN’s remarkable journey but also an occasion to reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to building a deeper, mutually-beneficial partnership with this dynamic regional bloc. The theme for this session — ‘Pakistan and ASEAN: Partners in Peace, Progress, and Regional Prosperity’ — aptly encapsulates our shared aspirations and priorities.
The ISSI is privileged to organize this event in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI). At the outset, I would like to express our most sincere gratitude to His Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, for graciously sending his video message specially recorded for this occasion. His thoughtful words testify to ASEAN’s enduring commitment to its partnership with Pakistan and add immense value to our proceedings today.
We are delighted to have Ambassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional Foreign Secretary (Asia-Pacific), as the Chief Guest. His proactive leadership has been pivotal in reinforcing efforts for the expansion and upgradation of the Pakistan-ASEAN relationship in multiple dimensions.
I would also like to convey our thanks to His Excellency Wunna Han, Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and Acting Chair of ACI, for his valuable role in the successful organization of this important Dialogue. His close coordination with both the ISSI and the ASEAN Secretariat has been instrumental in ensuring seamless and timely completion of the preparatory process.
I also wish to thank all the ASEAN Heads of Mission in Islamabad for their valuable contributions to the strengthening of ASEAN–Pakistan relations and for supporting our collaborative initiatives at the ISSI.
It is also an immense pleasure to welcome the Heads of Mission from Pakistan’s Embassies in ASEAN capitals, joining us virtually. Their efforts in deepening and expanding Pakistan’s political, economic, and cultural links with ASEAN members are critical to sustaining the momentum of this relationship. The Institute is proud to serve as the platform for bringing together the scholars, practitioners, business leaders, and other stakeholders to deliberate on the future prospects of this vital partnership.
Distinguished participants,
Every year on 8 August, ASEAN member states reaffirm their collective commitment to “One Vision, One Identity, One Community.” Today, ASEAN stands as a powerful example both of imagination and human endeavor, rightly termed as the ‘ASEAN miracle.’ With a combined population of over 690 million and a GDP exceeding $ 4.2 trillion, ASEAN has emerged as the fifth-largest economy in the world and is on track to become the fourth-largest by 2050. Further, ASEAN is the leading destination of foreign direct investment and the most successful regional cooperation initiative in the entire developing world.
It is remarkable that despite headwinds caused by global economic slowdowns, climate challenges, geo-strategic tensions, and major-power rivalries, ASEAN has sustained robust growth, with projections for 2025 indicating an expansion of around 4.5%. This resilience is anchored in ASEAN’s unshakable commitment to peace, economic integration, inclusivity, and the principle of “ASEAN centrality” in the evolving regional architecture.
Just recently, ASEAN has taken yet another landmark step forward. During the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in May 2025, under Malaysia’s inspiring chair, the “ASEAN Community Vision 2045” was adopted. This first-ever 20-year Vision envisages building a “Resilient, Innovative, Dynamic, and People-centered ASEAN.” Specifically, it would guide ASEAN’s actions in responding to global challenges in the traditional and non-traditional security domains and in realizing the opportunities thrown open by far-reaching transformations in the technological sphere, cyberspace, digital, green and blue economies, and so on. It would also advance the process of hard and soft connectivity as well as institutional building to enable ASEAN ensure a prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive future for its people. In essence, the Vision 2045 represents a blueprint for the ASEAN to navigate a rapidly changing world while remaining aligned to its core principles and strategic priorities.
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
From a strategic perspective, ASEAN represents far more than a regional economic bloc. It has become a central pillar of dialogue, stability, and economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. For Pakistan, ASEAN’s trajectory offers valuable lessons in cooperative multilateralism, regional integration, and balancing national interests with larger common good and shared prosperity.
Pakistan’s engagement with ASEAN has gradually deepened since being accorded the Sectoral Dialogue Partner status in July 1993.
Expanding economic cooperation and business opportunities remains a critical pillar. Bilateral trade between ASEAN and Pakistan increased by over 23% in 2024, reaching $ 10.45 billion, compared to $ 8.46 billion in 2023. A promising avenue lies in linking ASEAN markets with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), particularly through Special Economic Zones, logistics infrastructure, and energy corridors. Pakistan is also keen to explore complementarities with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework to create a more seamless trade and investment ecosystem between Pakistan and ASEAN.
The strength of the Pakistan–ASEAN partnership also lies in connections at the people-to-people level. Educational exchanges, scholarships, cultural links, and tourism hold immense potential to reinforce enduring bonds between our societies. Pakistan’s vibrant youth, coupled with ASEAN’s dynamic demographic profile, can help advance cross-cultural understanding and drive innovation. Expanding joint research initiatives, academic collaboration, and socio-cultural interaction would further fortify the human dimension of this partnership.
As Pakistan’s premier think-tank, ISSI has been in the forefront of efforts to foster deeper understanding and practical cooperation between Pakistan and ASEAN. The “ASEAN Corner” established in the ISSI now serves as an important hub for research and enhanced public awareness on ASEAN affairs. Conceived during the first structured ISSI-ACI Dialogue in 2023 and inaugurated with the support of ASEAN and Pakistan Missions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ASEAN Corner houses an extensive collection of books, journals, digital resources, and cultural artefacts. It provides a vital platform — enabling researchers, scholars, and policymakers to generate strategic insights and forward-looking recommendations for Pakistan-ASEAN engagement. Building on this momentum, the 2024 special issue of “PIVOT” magazine dedicated to ASEAN-Pakistan relations was received with keen interest by all relevant stakeholders.
At a time when the global landscape is characterized by flux and uncertainty, Pakistan and ASEAN share a common interest in promoting peace, stability, inclusivity, and regional prosperity. They have absolute clarity that this partnership is not just a diplomatic convenience but a strategic necessity rooted in shared values and mutual benefit. The ISSI reaffirms its commitment to further promoting this partnership through dedicated research, dialogue, and thought leadership. We also hope steady progress would continue to be made towards Full Dialogue Partnership.
Let us use this occasion to reaffirm our dedication to a future where Pakistan and ASEAN stand together as strong partners in peace, progress, and regional prosperity. May this friendship continue to flourish and contribute to a more stable and harmonious world. Happy ASEAN Day!