Naveed Ahmad Khan Photos by Ramzan Mughal
ISLAMABAD:The High Commissioner (HC) of Malaysia to Pakistan Dato Muhammad AZhar MaZlan to Pakistan hosted an Iftar reception in the Embassy on Thursday evening. The event focused on promoting and highlighting Malaysia’s priorities and vision as the ASEAN Chair in 2025.
Addressing the occasion, the High Commissioner extended warm greetings and best wishes, emphasizing the values of unity, reflection, and generosity that define Ramadan. He underscored Malaysia’s commitment to fostering stronger ties within the ASEAN community and beyond, particularly with Pakistan.
The HC highlighted the potentials of Pakistan and Malaysia bilateral trade and business and opportunity in different sectors. He said that the recent visit of the Malaysian Prime Minister to Pakistan was very important.
He said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan will visit Malaysia in May this year.He said the Chairman Senate will visit Malaysia to attend the Intra-Parliamentary session this month.
He highlighted that Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 is a pivotal moment as the region marks the 10 th anniversary of the ASEAN Community. Under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability,’ Malaysia aims to strengthen ASEAN’s role as a people-centred, forward-looking, and resilient organization. As challenges and opportunities arise, Malaysia is committed to ensuring ASEAN remains a strong and
united community, dedicated to fostering regional peace, stability, and economic growth while promoting sustainability and inclusivity.
Malaysia’s chairmanship will focus on enhancing ASEAN Centrality by promoting strategic trust, sustained dialogues, and diplomacy among nations. Expanding ASEAN’s global partnerships and boosting intra-ASEAN trade and investment with a focus on inclusive and sustainable regional growth will also be key objectives. Digital resilience, green finance, and investment are integral to driving economic progress, along with narrowing development gaps and improving living standards while mitigating climate change impacts.Malaysia also reaffirmed its commitment to expediting the admission of Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN, further strengthening regional unity.
The High Commissioner emphasized the vital role of media in fostering greater understanding and awareness of ASEAN’s vision, encouraging collaboration in highlighting ASEAN’s commitment to unity and progress.
Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 is not just about diplomacy—it is about building a shared
future of peace, prosperity, and mutual respect. The High Commissioner invited media representatives to be partners in this journey.
Concluding his remarks, the High Commissioner expressed gratitude to the attendees, reaffirming Malaysia’s dedication to strengthening Malaysia-Pakistan
relations and ASEAN’s collective growth. He wished all guests a blessed Ramadan, reiterating the spirit of friendship and cooperation.
INTRODUCTION:
The HC said that for Malaysia, ASEAN is the cornerstone of our foreign policy. Since its inception 58 years ago, the building blocks of ASEAN’s successes as a regional grouping have been the spirit of community and consensus building approach.
‘As many of you are aware, Malaysia has been entrusted with the great responsibility of leading ASEAN in 2025 as its Chair’.’This marks a crucial moment for our region as we navigate the challenges and opportunities as well as uncertainties that lie ahead’.
‘Under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” Malaysia is committed to ensuring that ASEAN remains a people-centered, forward-looking, and resilient organization’.
MALAYSIA’S ASEAN 2025 CHAIR VISION:
In 2025, ASEAN will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community.
Guided by the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and its Blueprints, as well as the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, ASEAN has achieved significant milestones over the last decade in fostering regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
To sustain this momentum and to chart the future direction of the region over the next 20 years, ASEAN has taken a bold step by developing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, which will be adopted at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
To strengthen ASEAN Centrality by promoting strategic trust among nations through sustained dialogues, diplomacy and goodwill.
Working together with Member States, Malaysia seeks to also forge and expand ASEAN’s partnerships with those beyond our borders, including with Pakistan.To push for greater commitment towards enhancing ASEAN intra-trade and investment, focusing on regional growth, inclusivity and sustainability.
ASEAN is one of Pakistan’s major trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching an all-time high of USD 11.8 billion in the past years’.Going forward, considering the economic diplomacy efforts undertaken by Pakistan now, I am confident the trade and investment between ASEAN and Pakistan could increase further. Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 is not just about regional diplomacy. It is about building a future together – a future of shared prosperity, peace, and mutual respect.
