JAKARTA, 21 June 2022 – ASEAN and Canada reaffirmed commitment to further deepen their longstanding partnership with a view to taking the relations to a new height. This commitment was made at the 19th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue held on 21 June via videoconference.
Senior officials from ASEAN and Canada noted the robust cooperation between the two sides across the three pillars of the ASEAN Community as well as the significant progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action (2021-2025).
The meeting also appreciated Canada’s support in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic including through its Mitigation of Biological Threats (MBT) Phase 2 (2019 – 2022) project and its contribution of CA$ 3.5 million over five years to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund.
Both sides shared the significance of enhancing cooperation in the key areas of trade and investment, and welcomed the launch of the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations in November 2021.
Towards this end, both sides looked forward to the first round of the FTA negotiations scheduled for August 2022. Other areas deliberated upon include the advancement of Women, Peace and Security Agenda; cybersecurity; public health emergencies/preparedness; digital economy; sustainable development and environment; connectivity, innovation, and smart cities; and human capital development through education and people-to-people exchanges.
The meeting welcomed Canada’s support for ASEAN Centrality and encouraged Canada to deepen its cooperation with ASEAN in the four key areas outlined in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The meeting noted that Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, focusing on diplomatic, economic, security and sustainable development partnerships in the region, is expected to be released towards the end of this year. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concerns.
To mark the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations this year, the meeting looked forward to the implementation of commemorative activities.
Secretary-General and SOM Leader of Malaysia, Dato Amran Mohamed Zin and Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia Pacific of Global Affairs Canada Paul Thoppil, co-chaired the meeting. It was participated by ASEAN Senior Officials or their representatives, as well as the Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political-Security Community.
