Phnom Penh, 6 August 2022 (TDI): Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met Prak Sokhonnon, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Cambodia, on the sidelines of the 29th ARF Ministerial meeting.
FM @BBhuttoZardari met with the Deputy PM and FM of Cambodia, Prak Sokhonn, in Phnom Penh.
🇵🇰🤝🇰🇭 pic.twitter.com/LWXoFnHuul
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) August 6, 2022
Bilawal Bhutto congratulated the Cambodian Minister on successfully hosting the ARF meeting. He expressed appreciation for the hospitality given to the Pakistani delegation during the event.
Moreover, the Pakistani Minister highlighted the importance of ARF regarding regional security. He assured Pakistan’s commitment to ARF and expressed Pakistan’s desire to increase its ties with ASEAN.
Both the Ministers appreciated friendly relations between Cambodia and Pakistan. They assured their determination to develop mutually beneficial cooperation further.
Further, the Ministers agreed to promote high-level dialogue and engagement as well as promote business-to-business (B2B) ties between the two states
Apart from this, they held discussions on regional issues of mutual interest. The Pakistani Foreign Minister guaranteed support for ASEAN-led developments in the Asia Pacific. Moreover, he expressed Pakistan’s support for Cambodia’s Presidency of ASEAN.
Pakistan at ARF Ministerial Meeting
Bilawal Bhutto is in Cambodia to attend a three-day 29th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting, which began on Thursday. He is leading the Pakistani delegation in the meeting. Secretary-General of the ASEAN, Foreign Ministers with Representatives of 27 ARF member states, gathered in Phnom Penh for this meeting.
Earlier, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan met his other counterparts, including Hayashi Yoshimasa (Japan), Vivian Balakrishnan (Singapore), Don Pramudwinai (Thailand), and Bui Thanh Son (Vietnam).
Additionally, he gave an address at the ARF meeting on Friday. In his address, he highlighted the impacts of global issues, including the COVID-19 Pandemic, climate change, the Russian-Ukraine conflict, and the Afghanistan crisis.
The Pakistani Minister emphasized collective response and efforts to resolve global issues. Lastly, he assured Pakistan’s full commitment to ASEAN and ARF.
Pakistan joined ASEAN Regional Forum in 2004. Since then, it has been an active member of the Forum and regularly participates in its activities.
