ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met Myanmar’s foreign minister in Islamabad and highlighted the need to expand cooperation in trade, economic engagement, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges, the premier’s office said. 

The meeting comes as Pakistan looks beyond its traditional partners to expand trade, investment and security cooperation with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), amid renewed international interest in its defense industry and efforts to boost exports and regional connectivity.

Myanmar has historically been one of Pakistan’s closer partners in Southeast Asia, including in defense cooperation. The country was among the first foreign buyers of Pakistan-China jointly produced JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, reflecting long-standing military ties that complement broader diplomatic and economic relations.

Interest in Pakistan’s military hardware has risen following the May 2025 conflict with India, after which officials say around a dozen countries have entered discussions over potential defense purchases.

Against this backdrop, Myanmar’s Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Than Swe, who is on an official visit to Pakistan, paid a courtesy call on the prime minister, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The Prime Minister underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in trade and economic engagement, education, culture, capacity-building, and people-to-people exchanges, and particularly appreciated Myanmar’s cooperation in combating trafficking and its support for Pakistan’s engagement with ASEAN,” the statement said.

The Myanmar foreign minister conveyed his country’s desire to expand ties with Pakistan in areas of mutual interest and thanked Islamabad for its support following Myanmar’s devastating earthquake in March 2025, the statement added.

Pakistan has been seeking to strengthen links with Southeast Asia as part of a wider strategy to broaden diplomatic space, attract investment, and position itself as a regional security and trade partner beyond South Asia, with officials increasingly pointing to defense cooperation and economic diplomacy as parallel pillars of foreign policy.