JAKARTA, 21 MARCH 2024 – ASEAN and Canada reaffirmed commitment to further strengthening their strategic partnership at the 12^th Meeting of the ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation Committee held at the ASEAN Headquarters today. 

The meeting discussed the developments in ASEAN and in Canada and reviewed the extensive cooperation between both sides and noted the substantive progress in the implementation of the ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action (POA) (2021-2025). The meeting also looked forward to the development of a new POA (2026-2030) to succeed the current POA with the aim to further substantiate the partnership and elevate it to greater heights.

The meeting noted with satisfaction the progress in the implementation of the Joint Leaders’ Statement of the ASEAN-Canada Summit to launch the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership in 2023. The meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern.

ASEAN and Canada discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as maritime, addressing transnational crimes; agriculture, food security; Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda; human rights; protection of migrant workers; disaster management; and education including through the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) programme. Both sides also shared the view on the importance of working together in the areas of trade and investment; digital economy; micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); women economic empowerment; health; climate change; renewable energy; infrastructure and connectivity. 

ASEAN and Canada looked forward to the conclusion of the negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada FTA (ACAFTA), which will strengthen ASEAN-Canada economic relations, connect ASEAN and Canada closer to the global value chains, and improve market access for both ASEAN and Canadian private sector.

Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN, Nur Izzah Wong Mee Choo, and Ambassador of Canada to ASEAN, Victoria Singmin, who joined virtually, co-chaired the meeting. In attendance were the Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, their representatives and their respective delegations, representative from the ASEAN Secretariat, and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Trade Representative, Paul Thoppil. Ambassador of Timor-Leste to ASEAN also attended as Observer.