Ms. Usana Berananda, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, is scheduled to attend the 17^th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue via videoconference on 11 August 2020 together with SOM Leaders of ASEAN Member States and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN.

The ASEAN-Canada Dialogue is an annual meeting convened to discuss and exchange views on key issues under the ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations. The Meeting will discuss ASEAN-Canada cooperation in various dimensions, including regional and global issues as well as efforts in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The Meeting will also discuss political, economic and socio-cultural cooperation, particularly on sustainable development, regional connectivity, trade and investment, women's economic empowerment as well as people-to-people and youth connectivity. In addition, ASEAN and Canada are currently discussing a new ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action (2021-2025), which will guide the ASEAN-Canada cooperation for the next five years. The new Plan of Action will be submitted to the ASEAN-Canada Ministerial Meeting for an adoption in September 2020.

This Meeting provides a timely opportunity to reaffirm the close partnership between ASEAN and Canada as a Dialogue Partner in promoting regional stability, security and prosperity, particularly during this time when many countries are now facing unprecedented challenges.