ASEAN and Canada agreed to start negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) in 2021 and promote cooperation through the Plan of Action for 2021-2025 period.

Foreign ministers from 10 ASEAN Member States and Canada attend
the ASEAN-Canada Ministerial Meeting held digitally, August 5, 2021.

The agreement was made at the ASEAN-Canada Ministerial Meeting held digitally on August 5.

At the meeting, Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said his country expects to lift up the relations with ASEAN, intensively participate in ASEAN-led mechanisms, and kick-start trade deal negotiations with the bloc soon.

ASEAN member countries spoke highly of Canada’s announcement to contribute CAD$3.5 million to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund over the next five years and its provision of a medical supply package worth CAD$4.5 million for ASEAN.

Both sides agreed to give priority to supporting each other in containing COVID-19, mitigating impacts caused by the pandemic and accelerating comprehensive and sustainable recovery.

They committed to enhancing economic, trade and investment cooperation and maintaining the sustainability of supply chain.

Regarding regional and international issues of common concerns, both ASEAN and Canada emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, particularly in the East Sea, in the current context. Canadian sides voiced support for ASEAN to foster cooperation, dialogue and trust-building in the region.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomed Canada’s expression to deepen ties with ASEAN, making contribution to the common efforts of ASEAN in maintaining peace, stability and development in the region.

Bui suggested Canada support ASEAN to timely and fully get access to COVID-19 vaccine resources and to handle with consequences caused by the pandemic.

He also asked the two sides to accelerate cooperation with regard to women, peace and security.

The Vietnamese diplomat underscored that the maintenance of peace, security, marine environment and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea is the shared interest and responsibility of all countries, including ASEAN and Canada.

Reaffirming ASEAN’s principled positions on the East Sea, Bui underlined the significance of trust building, self-restraint, non-militarization, peacefully settlement of disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

He said ASEAN is actively working with China in formulating an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and the UNCLOS 1982, asking for Canada’s continued support for ASEAN in this issue./.