Ishaq Dar arrives in Manila for ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial meeting

– Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Manila on Wednesday to attend the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting, the Foreign Office of Pakistan said.

Assistant Secretary for Foreign Affairs Elmer G. Cato of the Philippines, Pakistan Ambassador to the Philippines Asima Rabbani and other authorities received Dar on arrival.

The minister has a hectic schedule of activities, including attending the ARF plenary session and a series of bilateral talks with foreign ministers and senior delegates attending the forum, the Foreign Office said.

Foreign ministers and delegates from 27 ARF member states and the ASEAN Secretary-General will participate in the high-level session.

During the forum, Dar is expected to discuss key political and security issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region with a focus on promoting peace, regional stability and mutual cooperation through sustained dialogue and diplomacy.

Besides, on the sidelines of the meeting, the deputy prime minister will hold bilateral talks with his Philippine counterpart and several other participating dignitaries to discuss matters of mutual interest and strengthen diplomatic engagement.

The ASEAN Regional Forum was established in 1994 and is a key multilateral forum for dialogue on regional security. Pakistan became a member of the forum in 2004 and continues to be an active member since then, contributing to its regional activities and cooperation objectives.