On Wednesday, 26 June 2024, Ambassador Dato' Azhar Mazlan attended the handing over ceremony of the Chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI). The Chairmanship of ACI was officially handed over from Her Excellency Ambassador Maria Agnes M. Cervantes, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines, to His Excellency Colonel (Retd) Pengiran Haji Kamal Bashah Bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Pakistan.
Ambassador Cervantes, in her closing remarks, thanked all members of the ACI for their cooperation in making her term successful by involving in activities that promote public and economic diplomacy for all ASEAN members. She added that the increased visibility of ASEAN is attributed to the active participation of all ACI members and looked forward to Brunei’s Chairmanship.
His Excellency Kamal, in his acceptance remarks, expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him to lead ACI. He commended Ambassador Cervantes for her exemplary leadership and the milestones achieved under her Chairmanship. He pledged to continue fostering ASEAN unity and cooperation, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in addressing regional challenges and enhancing ASEAN's presence in Pakistan. He also highlighted the significance of building on the strong foundation laid by his predecessor and looked forward to collaborative initiatives that would benefit all ASEAN members.
Ambassador Dato' Azhar Mazlan, on behalf of Malaysia, extended heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Kamal on his new role as Chairman of ACI. He expressed confidence in Brunei's leadership and assured Malaysia’s full support in advancing ASEAN's objectives in Islamabad. Ambassador Azhar also acknowledged the exceptional contributions of Ambassador Cervantes, noting her dedication and the remarkable progress made during her tenure.
The meeting also served as a farewell ceremony of the ACI to Ambassador Nguyen Tien Phong of Vietnam, who was leaving upon completion of his tour of duty in Islamabad.
