The East Asia Summit (EAS) to be held in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday is likely to consider issues including expansion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
The countries, which are aspiring to join Asean include Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia and others. China supports Pakistan's association with this important regional body for promoting common benefit.
Sources told APP here that Pakistan hopes to get fair opportunities to take part in economic activities, undertaken by the 10-member association.
Currently, Asean has a sectoral dialogue relation with Pakistan that joined the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation and the Asean Regional Forum in July 2004.
In an interview with APP, a senior official of the association said the two sides have wide scope to develop further co-operation under regional and bilateral framework, in the areas like science, technology, education, environment and counter-terrorism.
It was agreed at the last ministerial-level meeting that a feasibility study on expanding Asean-Pakistan economic relations be undertaken. He hoped the necessary work to this effect would be completed as early as possible.
Relations between Asean and its dialogue partners, including China, Japan and South Korea, have kept on broadening and deepening in various spheres, in economic areas in particular.
The ties between Asean and its dialogue partners have become ever more substantial with an increasing number of specific co-operation projects and initiatives being implemented.