On the afternoon of October 10, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the ASEAN-Canada Special Summit on Promoting Connectivity and Resilience.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the conference, leaders of the countries welcomed the positive progress achieved in ASEAN-Canada relations and cooperation since upgrading to Strategic Partnership in 2023.
The implementation of the ASEAN-Canada Action Plan for 2021-2025 has reached 94.17%. ASEAN is currently Canada's fourth largest trading partner.
In 2023, two-way trade turnover will reach 20.35 billion USD, and total FDI investment from Canada to ASEAN will reach 3.39 billion USD.
Emphasizing ASEAN's central and important position in Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirmed his determination to work with ASEAN to complete negotiations on the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement by 2025, bringing practical benefits and prosperity to the people.
At the same time, Canada will continue to effectively implement its cooperation commitments and priorities, such as the $24 million Canadian Trade Gateway initiative in Southeast Asia, as well as effectively disburse the $1 million Canadian ASEAN-Canada Trust Fund for bilateral cooperation programs and projects.
The leaders of the countries also agreed to continue to coordinate closely, effectively exploit the remaining space and potential for cooperation, promote development relations worthy of the Strategic Partnership, support businesses, digital transformation, food security, healthcare, education, human resource training, people-to-people exchange, environment, climate change response, disaster management, connectivity, and narrowing the development gap...
ASEAN expects Canada, the G7 Chair in 2025 and an important member of the G20, to contribute more responsibly to peace, stability and development in the region, including the East Sea, and to support the shaping of a regional structure for peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development that is beneficial to both sides.
Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared the significance of upgrading the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership in 2023, opening a new era with opportunities for bilateral relations, and proposed three orientations to develop a substantive, effective and mutually beneficial relationship.
ASEAN and Canada need to prioritize enhancing trade and investment connectivity, completing negotiations on the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement in 2025, and effectively utilizing the CPTPP Agreement.
The Prime Minister emphasized the priority of connecting people, expanding cooperation in education and training, supporting ASEAN in developing high-quality human resources, and granting more scholarships for students and researchers from ASEAN countries to come to Canada to study and research.
To develop a stronger ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership, the Prime Minister suggested that Canada step up cooperation to improve resilience to climate change challenges, support ASEAN countries and especially the Mekong sub-region in energy transition, environmental protection, disaster management, climate change response, emission reduction, and sustainable development.
In addition, Canada also needs to participate in supporting ASEAN to further promote the development of digital economy, green economy, circular economy, and cybersecurity.
At the end of the conference, leaders of ASEAN countries and Canada agreed to adopt a Joint Statement on Promoting ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience.
Today (October 11), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend the ASEAN-US Summit, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN-United Nations Summit.
