“East Asia Emerges as a Growing Hub of Economic Progress”
Published on: January 1, 2024.
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Pakistan’s relations with East Asian countries are guided by the Vision East Asia Policy, which was launched in 2003. The policy aims to strengthen bilateral relations through high-level visits, institutional meetings, cooperation on international issues, and partnerships with regional organizations. It also focuses on promoting trade and investment, cooperation in defense and counter-terrorism, enhancing cultural ties, and fostering people-to-people contacts.
One of the key countries in East Asia that Pakistan has a strong relationship with is Japan. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1952. Pakistan and Japan have a multi-faceted and longstanding relationship that is rooted in people-to-people contacts and extensive business linkages. Japan has been a major investor in Pakistan, with over 100 Japanese companies conducting business and making long-term investments in the country. The bilateral mechanisms between the two countries include bilateral political consultations, high-level economic policy dialogue, joint government business dialogue, and security dialogue. The total bilateral trade between Pakistan and Japan is around US $1.1 billion, with Pakistan exporting cotton yarn, woven fabric, crustaceans, rice, and importing automobiles, iron, textile machinery, and auto parts from Japan.
Another important country in East Asia that Pakistan has deep-rooted historical linkages with is the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Although formal diplomatic relations were established in 1983, the historical connections between the two countries date back to 384 A.D. The mechanisms of bilateral consultation between Pakistan and South Korea include bilateral political consultations at the foreign secretary level, joint trade committee, joint defense committee on logistics and procurement, Korea-Pakistan parliamentary friendship group, employment permit system, and climate change dialogue. The total bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded US $1 billion in 2023. Pakistan exports cotton, petroleum, clothing, ethyl alcohol, seafood, building materials, leather, medical devices, sports goods, and man-made staple fiber to South Korea, while imports include automobiles, iron and steel, plastics, tanning dyeing extract, machinery, organic chemicals, volume fuels and oils, electrical machinery, pharmaceuticals, and aluminum.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) also has diplomatic ties with Pakistan. The Consular Mission of DPRK was established in 1968, and the relations were upgraded to ambassadorial level in 1972. While Pakistan’s mission in DPRK is currently closed, DPRK maintains its mission in Pakistan. Pakistan fully implements UNSC resolutions and has applied sanctions on DPRK, including the suspension of flights of Air Koryo, sanctions on trade and commerce, monitoring of activities and bank accounts of DPRK diplomats, and strict visa rules. Pakistan consistently supports a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula and has adhered to the agreements made in the 1994 Framework Agreement and the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. Bilateral trade between Pakistan and DPRK is almost non-existent due to sanctions.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s relations with East Asian countries, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, are based on various mechanisms of bilateral consultation and cooperation in different sectors. These relationships are characterized by trade, investment, cultural exchanges, and historical linkages, contributing to the overall diplomatic ties between Pakistan and East Asian countries.
Source: [https://mofa.gov.pk](https://mofa.gov.pk){:target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”}
