Deputy Permanent Secretary participated in the 18th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue, strengthening the ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations in all dimensions, especially in the COVID-19 recovery efforts and cooperation on transnational crime, trade and investment, MSMEs development, regional connectivity, sustainable development, education and gender equality.

On 13 July 2021, H.E. Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, participated in the 18th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue via video conference. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. U Aung Myo Myint, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to ASEAN (as Country Coordinator for the ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations) and H.E. Mr. Paul Thoppil, Assistant Deputy Minister (Asia Pacific), Global Affairs Canada. The Meeting was attended by SOM Leaders/representatives from ASEAN Member States and Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political Security Community.

The Meeting discussed the strengthening of the ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations in all dimensions. The focus was on the COVID-19 recovery efforts, by which Canada will contribute CAD 3.5 million to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund. The Meeting also underscored ASEAN-Canada cooperation in other areas, such as transnational crime, trade and investment, MSMEs development, regional connectivity, sustainable development, education and gender equality. Particularly on economic relations, Canada wished for the early launch of the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations as it would pave the way for further strengthening economic ties between both sides.

Deputy Permanent Secretary emphasised that ASEAN and Canada need to work together to promote trust and confidence in the region to foster an environment conducive to resilient and sustainable recovery. He therefore suggested 3 areas of win-win cooperation, namely (1) enhancing MSMEs’ digital skills under the Canada-OECD Project for ASEAN SMEs (COPAS); (2) addressing climate change with the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model as part of the solution, and the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD) as a possible platform for cooperation; and (3) promoting gender equality especially on ensuring financial access for women entrepreneurs and advancing Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

The Meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues while reaffirming the importance of rules-based international order and support for ASEAN centrality and win-win cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

The Meeting served to review progress made on ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations, which will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2022, and to prepare for the upcoming Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) with Canada in August this year.