JAKARTA, 7 February 2024 — Ambassador Ameer Khurram Rathore of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan today presented his Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn at the ASEAN Headquarters, assuming his office as the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to ASEAN.
Secretary-General Dr. Kao congratulated Ambassador Rathore on his assumption of office. He was pleased to note the revitalisation of the ASEAN-Pakistan partnership through the convening of the 7th ASEAN-Pakistan Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (AP-JSCC) Meeting in September last year. He stressed the need for both ASEAN and Pakistan to effectively implement the ASEAN-Pakistan Sectoral Dialogue Partnership: Practical Cooperation Areas (PCA) through projects and activities to substantiate and strengthen the ASEAN-Pakistan partnership.
Ambassador Rathore stated that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with ASEAN. Hence, in the spirit of strengthening Pakistan’s cooperation with ASEAN, Ambassador Rathore conveyed his resolve to work closely with the ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat.
Pakistan has been a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN since 1993 and has undertaken a number of cooperative projects and activities with ASEAN. Pakistan has also participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum since 2004. In July 2004, Pakistan acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). According to ASEAN Statistic Database, the total two-way trade between ASEAN and Pakistan grew by 3.77% from US$ 10.22 billion in 2021 to US$ 10.61 billion in 2022.
