This was affirmed by Pakistan's Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, during a meeting with the ambassadors of ASEAN member states to Pakistan on July 27.
The meeting formed part of the annual activities of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI). Pham Anh Tuan, Ambassador of Viet Nam to Pakistan, attended the event.
During the meeting, Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik highly commended ASEAN's growing role and standing, noting that the regional bloc has a population of approximately 680 million people and a nominal GDP of more than 4 trillion USD.
Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik stated that ASEAN is now an important economic and trading partner of Pakistan. In 2025, two-way trade between ASEAN and Pakistan exceeded 11 billion USD, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam and the Philippines accounting for approximately 90% of the total trade value. He also noted that, with ASEAN's dynamic and culturally rich community, tourism between Pakistan and ASEAN has considerable potential for further development.
"ASEAN countries, including Viet Nam, serve as models for Pakistan to learn from in their successful transformation from poor, agriculture-based nations into dynamic industrialised economies," Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik affirmed.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Pakistan's Minister for Petroleum and the ambassadors of ASEAN member states to Pakistan witnessed the handover ceremony for the rotating chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad, which rotates every six months, from Indonesian Ambassador Chandra Warsenanto Sukotjo to Philippine Ambassador Emmanuel R. Hernandez.
Witnessing and delivering remarks at the chairmanship handover ceremony, Shahid Ali Seehar, Director General of the East Asia-Pacific Division at Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highly appreciated the positive role played by the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad over the past period.
Shahid Ali Seehar noted that the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad's wide range of activities has helped strengthen friendship, promote cultural exchanges, and enhance the Pakistani public's understanding of ASEAN member states.
Earlier, on July 23, representatives of the Embassy of Viet Nam in Pakistan attended the seminar entitled "Reviving the Historic Silk Route Linking ASEAN and Pakistan: Unlocking Economic, Tourism, Trade and Investment Potential."
At the seminar, participants highlighted the historical significance and importance of the Maritime Silk Road, also known historically as the Spice Route, in fostering connections between ASEAN countries and South Asia and the Middle East, including Pakistan, as well as in strengthening today's economic and trade partnerships, cultural and tourism connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and ASEAN member states.
