ASEAN and Canada to Expand and Deepen Cooperation

15-May-2015

Source: ASEAN Secretariat News

ASEAN and Canada to Expand and Deepen Cooperation

VANCOUVER, 15 May 2015 – ASEAN and Canada agreed to expand and deepen cooperation to realise the full potential of their partnership and further contribute to peace, stability and prosperity across the Pacific. The commitment was made at the 12th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue held in Vancouver, Canada on 12 May 2015.

H.E. Ms. Susan Gregson, Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, reaffirmed Canada's strong commitment to further enhance its comprehensive ties with ASEAN. Canada's engagement of ASEAN has been evident in, among others, high-level visits to the ASEAN region in the past two years, establishing a mission to ASEAN headed by a dedicated Canadian Ambassador, and expanding Canada's diplomatic presence to cover all ASEAN Member States.

ASEAN values the active cooperation and mutually beneficial relations since the establishment of the partnership in 1977. ASEAN representatives also expressed appreciation for Canada's continued support for ASEAN Community building efforts and ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture. Both sides agreed to explore further opportunities in areas such as trade and investment, energy including clean and renewable energy, agricultural innovation, food security, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development, science and technology, public health, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, public-private partnership in connectivity, disaster management, and promoting sustainable development.

Both sides recognised terrorism, violent extremism, and radicalisation as serious threats and agreed to cooperate in combating this threat through measures such as information sharing, preventing terrorism financing and enhancing collaboration at the regional and international levels through mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and the UN.

The Dialogue had a candid exchange of views on regional and international developments. Noting the current regional uncertainties and tensions, both sides stressed the need to build mutual trust and confidence, and to promote a norms-based and rules-based regional security architecture which will promote a peaceful and stable environment conducive for continued development of all countries in the region.

The participants expressed condolences to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia for the losses suffered as a result of the helicopter crash in Pakistan on 8 May 2015.

The Dialogue was co-chaired by H.E. Chee Wee Kiong, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, and H.E. Ms. Susan Gregson. It was attended by all ASEAN Member States and ASEAN Secretariat, led by H.E. Hirubalan V.P., Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political-Security Community.