The 20th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue opens in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 30, 2023 (Photo: asean.org)Jakarta (VNA) - ASEAN and Canada reaffirmed theircommitment to amplify efforts to substantiate their longstanding relations witha view to taking the partnership to a new height at the 20th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 30.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Secretary-General of the Ministry ofForeign Affairs of Malaysia and SOM Leader of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Amran MohamedZin and Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia Pacific of Global Affairs Canada,Weldon Epp, with the participation of ASEAN Senior Officials, representativesof the ASEAN Secretariat, and Timor-Leste as an observer.
At theevent, Canada conveyed its unwavering support for ASEAN Community-buildingefforts, assistance towards the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,and commitment to ASEAN Centrality through its active participation inASEAN-led mechanisms.
Bothsides welcomed positive advancement made in the implementation of theASEAN-Canada Plan of Action (2021-2025) and acknowledged the strengthening ofcooperation between both sides across the three ASEAN Community pillars.
They shared the significance of intensifying economic cooperation in keyareas of trade and investment. Recognising the economic potential, they lookedforward to the constructive progress of the ongoing ASEAN-Canada Free Trade(FTA) negotiations. Looking ahead, the meeting lookedforward to the 4th ASEAN-Canada FTA Trade NegotiatingCommittee (TNC) Meeting, scheduled for this June.
Underthe ambit of future cooperation, the two sides highlighted the importance ofenhancing partnership in the four key areas outlined in the ASEAN Outlook onthe Indo-Pacific (AOIP) through concrete projects to support itsimplementation, in complementarity with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS),launched in November 2022.
They emphasisedthe need to work closely to further enhance cooperation to combat transnationalcrime and counter terrorism as well as promote maritime cooperation. The meeting also encouraged greater collaboration on cybersecurity, connectivityand infrastructure, transport, trade and investment, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including women entrepreneurship, digital economy andfinancial infrastructure.
Inaddition, they discussed and called for cooperation to narrowing the developmentgap in ASEAN and promote collaboration on energy and minerals, foodsecurity, science, technology and innovation, disaster management, publichealth security, youth and women empowerment, Women Peace and Security Agenda,protection of the rights of migrant workers, education, people-to-peopleexchanges, tourism and sports, smart cities, environment andclimate change, including clean water and social services, biodiversity, and sustainable development.
To support itscollaborative programmes with ASEAN, Canada highlighted the establishment of theASEAN-Canada Plan of Action Trust Fund this year. Correspondingly, the meeting shared the significance of developing practical programmes andactivities that are tangible, sustainable, mutually beneficial, regional innature and adaptive to current challenges and needs of ASEAN./.
