On 25 – 26 March 2019, Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, as SOM Leader of Thailand, led a Thai delegation to participate in two activities, including (1) ASEAN – Canada Special Business Seminar under the theme “ASEAN and Canada – Advancing the Partnership” co-hosted by ASEAN – Canada Business Council (ACBC) in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada and ASEAN Committee in Ottawa (ACO) (Royal Thai Embassy in Ottawa assuming the Chair of ACO) and (2) 16th ASEAN – Canada Dialogue, in Ottawa, Canada.  

 

Speaking at the Special Business Seminar, the Director–General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs highlighted Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme and priorities, seeking to pursue sustainability in all dimensions. He also expressed support for the potential ASEAN – Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which would enhance greater trade and investment between ASEAN and Canada. The Special Business Seminar aimed to increase awareness of the Canadian private sector regarding the opportunities presented by a potential ASEAN – Canada FTA and to connect Canadian private sector leaders with the ASEAN diplomatic community and senior Canadian government officials. Nearly 80 leaders from Canada and ASEAN’s public and private sectors attended the event.   

 

At the 16th ASEAN – Canada Dialogue, both sides exchanged views on important issues such as global and regional issues, global economy, ASEAN – Canada trade and investment, potential ASEAN – Canada Free Trade Agreement, education as well as women empowerment. The Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs briefed the meeting on the theme and priorities as ASEAN’s Chair to pursue “Sustainability of Things”, or sustainability in all dimensions, namely sustainable security, sustained economic growth and sustainable development. Canada strongly welcomed and expressed its full support for Thailand’s Chairmanship as these were very much in line with Canada’s priorities. He also led the discussion on Connectivity and Sustainability. On connectivity, Thailand’s priorities would be (1) to reinforce effective implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025), (2) to develop the ASEAN Infrastructure Financing Mechanism and (3) to promote the approach of “Connecting the Connectivities”, the report of which is supported by the World Bank. On sustainability, since 2016, Thailand has served as ASEAN Coordinator on Sustainable Development Cooperation. Various activities have been undertaken, including (1) the annual High-Level Brainstroming Dialogue on Enhancing Complementarities between ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (HLBD) and (2) the launch of the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD) in Bangkok in November 2019. In this connection, Thailand encouraged Canada to increase its engagement with ASEAN through pushing forward the MPAC 2025 initiatives, promoting border management as well as developing concrete projects with ACSDSD and other relevant Centres of ASEAN, in the areas of Canada’s expertise.

 

The 17th ASEAN – Canada Dialogue is scheduled to be held in 2020 in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.