Dar arrives in Manila to attend the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday to participate in the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) ministerial meeting, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The FO said Dar arrived in Manila along with his delegation and is planning to participate in the ARF plenary meeting as well as hold a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the forum.

He added that “an intense program of engagement awaits us, including participation in the FRA plenary meeting and bilateral meetings with counterparts on the sidelines.”

Upon arrival at the airport, Dar was received by Office of Intelligence and Security Services (OISS) Undersecretary Elmer G. Cato of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), along with Pakistani Ambassador to the Philippines Ambassador Asima Rabbani and officials from the Pakistani embassy, ​​the FO said.

Read: Prime Minister Ishaq Dar discusses ties with Venezuelan Foreign Minister

The week-long summit, which will run until July 24, brings together foreign ministers and senior diplomats from ASEAN nations and major powers to discuss issues related to geopolitical challenges, energy supply, trade, food, security cooperation, Myanmar’s civil war and the Five Point Consensus, as well as the impacts of the US-Iran conflict.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will join the ASEAN-led meeting in the coming days and could meet on the sidelines. India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Russia, Great Britain and the European Union, among others, will also attend.

Southeast Asia, a major oil importer with a combined gross domestic product of $3.8 trillion, is highly exposed to the supply crisis and has sought to fast-track an ASEAN oil-swapping mechanism to mitigate the impact.

Additional information by Reuters