At the event (Photo: VNA)At the virtual meeting, ASEAN and Canada expressed theirdelight at progresses in their cooperation, particularly in theimplementation of the action plan for the joint declaration on ASEAN-Canada dialoguepartnership for 2021-2025. They discussed ways to step up bilateral engagements this yearmarking the 45th founding anniversary of their partnership.
Canada stressed the importance of its collaboration with thebloc, considering ASEAN a priority in its foreign policy. ASEAN plays animportant role in maintaining political stability and economic development ofthe region, it said, wishing to participate more deeply in ASEAN-led processes.
Canada was also committed to continuing to support ASEAN inits community building efforts, including the implementation of the ASEAN Vision2025, Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025), ASEAN Initiative forASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan IV (2021-2025), and the bloc’s pandemicresponse and recovery.
ASEAN, meanwhile, highly appreciated Canada's commitmentsand support on the three pillars of politics-security, economy andsociety-culture, especially regarding trade-investment, small- and medium-sizedenterprises, education, disaster management, energy security, transnationalcrime, women's and children's rights, migrant workers.
ASEAN thanked Canada for its 1.38 million USD contribution tothe COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund last year.
The meeting also discussed preparations for the 19th ASEAN-Canada dialogue andthe ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) with Canada this year.
The 11th ACJCC meeting is slated for 2023./.
VNA
