Pakistan eligible for full dialogue partner of ASEAN: Musharraf
07 June, 2006
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| ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf talks with Secretary General ASEAN, Ong Keng Yang, who called on him at President House. |
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ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday said Pakistan has the eligibility to become full dialogue partner of ASIAN.
While talking to the Sectary General ASEAN Ong Keng Yang, President said both Pakistan and ASEAN are cooperating in fight against terrorism while free trade agreement will definitely strengthen bilateral trades ties between the two countries.
President said that Pakistan environment is conducive for investment and ASEAN investors should take advantage from this opportunity. " consistency in government economic polices put the country on trajectory path and restored the confidence of the foreign investors," he added.
President further said that is an important ally in war against terrorism and we will continue our role till the elimination of extremism and terrorism.
On the occasion, Sectary General ASEAN said that several ASEAN investors are keen to invest in Pakistan. during the meeting the representatives of ASEAN member countries were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Pakistan attaches great importance to ASEAN and is keen to expand cooperation with ASEAN member states in a broad spectrum of areas specifically trade, investment, industry, environment, tourism, science & technology, drug control, and human resources for which there exists tremendous potential.
The Prime Minister was talking to Mr.Ong Keng Yong, Secretary General ASEAN who called on him along with an 11 members delegation representing Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and Philippines at the Prime Minister’s House this afternoon.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to promote regional trade to leverage the true potential of Asia and said that Pakistan has been persistently pursuing its Vision East Asia in view of the growing economic importance of the area and added that ASEAN has emerged as a driving force for Asian resurgence.
The Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s keenness to get Full Dialogue Partnership of ASEAN as it will provide an institutional framework to enhance its trade and economic cooperation with ASEAN member states.
The Prime Minister said Asia is one of the most promising vibrant and challenging regions of the world. Its strength is rooted both in its size and diversity. The continent has been the engine for revival of the global economy with its abundant natural resources including oil and gas and large reservoirs of entrepreneurial and technological skills.
He said the future of Asia depends upon the ability of Asian nations to implement necessary structural reforms to maintain growth and achieve even greater levels of
The Prime Minister said that strategically located at the confluence of three vital regions of the world ; South Asia , Central Asia and West Asia , Pakistan is playing a pivotal role for the promotion of multi sectoral intra - regional cooperation which provides the basis for peace and prosperity in the region. Pakistan, he said, provides the shortest access to sea for all land locked countries of Central Asia as well as Western China.
To facilitate this access we are building a deep-sea port at Gwadar on the Persian Gulf and constructing rail and road links to connect the region. Pakistan is also fast emerging as the junction for multiple corridors of cooperation between the three regions involving energy, trade transportation and tourism, the Prime Minister said.
Pakistan’s pivotal role in the region is underscored by the fact that it is the only country which is a member of ECO, SAARC. Moreover it has recently joined SCO as an observer. As a founding member of the OIC, Pakistan also plays a pre-eminent role among Muslim nations.
Talking of the economic situation, the Prime Minister said last year real GDP grew by 6.6 % and the per capita income has risen to $847. He said that Pakistan’s economy has grown at an average rate of almost 7.o % during the last four years and over 7.5 5 in the last three years thus enabling it to join the club of the fastest growing economies of the region.
He said Pakistan wants growth with dignity, equity and self-reliance. Strengthening of infrastructure, ensuring energy, water and food security, human resource development and bringing improvement in social sector are among the top priorities of the government, the Prime Minister added.
He said the sustained upward trajectory of Pakistan’s economy offers vast opportunities for upgrading economic, trade and commercial cooperation with Asian countries as well as with rest of the world. Pakistan is fast becoming the destination of choice for investment and joint ventures, he said.
Talking of the regional situation, Prime Minister said our vision of Pakistan is of a strong, democratic, progressive country that provides peace, prosperity and security to its people and coexists with its neighbors with peace and amity.
He said Pakistan wants resolution of all outstanding issues with India including the core issue of Kashmir and is committed to the process of dialogue with India. Pakistan is in favour of a solution of the Kashmir issue, in line with the wishes and aspirations of people of the Kashmir.
"Peace is the best gift which we can bestow upon our coming generations. Sustainable peace requires courage, magnanimity and flexibility on part of the leaders ", the Prime Minister observed.
On Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said Pakistan is assisting Afghanistan in every way to bring peace and prosperity there. He said a strong, peaceful, stable, vibrant and growing Afghanistan is in favour of its people and important for Pakistan, the region and the world.
He said Pakistan has strategic relations with China covering all areas including economy, security,. defence and diplomatic relations.
On the Iranian nuclear issue, the Prime Minister said Pakistan is opposed to nuclear proliferation. However, Iran has a right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under the IAEA safeguards. He said Pakistan is in favor of a peaceful resolution of the issue through dialogue and diplomacy.
Mr.Ong Keng Yong, Secretary General appreciated the economic recovery achieved by Pakistan and expressed the desire for deeper relations between Pakistan and ASEAN.
He said Pakistan because of its geo strategic location has the potential to play a pivotal role in promoting regional trade and economic cooperation.
He said ASEAN is considering granting full dialogue partnership status to Pakistan and a decision in this regard will be soon made.
The meeting was attended among others by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Secretary, Foreign Affairs and senior officials.
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