Canada adn ASEAN: Strengthening Ties and Economic Cooperation
Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been fostering a robust relationship, with Canada serving as an Observer in the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus Experts’ Working groups on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.This collaboration has been instrumental in preventing, detecting, and responding to biological threats, thereby enhancing regional health security capabilities. Canada’s Mitigation of Biological Threats Program recently marked a decade of successful collaboration in this regard.
In a significant development, the Honourable mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, recently concluded successful meetings in Indonesia with ASEAN Economic Ministers.During these meetings, Minister Ng engaged with international partners, including Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, expressing gratitude for the support in advancing negotiations toward a Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement. Minister Ng also thanked Indonesia for hosting the 2023 ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting.