APJSCC meeting today
By Asim Hussein

ISLAMABAD—The third meeting of Asean-Pakistan Joint Sectoral Dialogue Cooperation Committee (APJSCC) to be held here today (Monday).
The ASEAN delegation led by its Secretary General, Ong Keng Yong also comprising representatives of 10-member countries has already reached Islamabad last night. Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan would lead the Pakistani delegation. ASEAN Secretary General on the occasion said that his organization places great emphasis on its relations with Pakistan and in the meeting initiatives would be disused to further improve existing cooperation. During the two-day talks, Pakistan and the Asean would review progress in the eight areas of Sectoral cooperation. The areas of cooperation include trade, industry, investment, environment, science and technology, tourism, drugs and narcotics control, and human resource development.
A Foreign Office sources said that the Third APJSCC meeting will provide Pakistan an opportunity to strengthen its relations with Asean leading to more avenues of cooperation.” The meeting which takes place after five years acquires significance in view of Pakistan’s bid for full dialogue partnership in Asean. Pakistan was accorded status of a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of Asean in July 1997. The first meeting of the Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee was held in Bali, Indonesia, in February 1999 and the second in Islamabad from February 28 to March 1, 2001. During his stay, the Asean secretary-general would call on the president, the prime minister and the foreign minister.