​Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs participated in ASEAN - Canada Ministerial Meeting which he reassured the importance of principles under the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific and encouraged cooperation and partnership between ASEAN and Canada in human security, public health, digital economy and Sustainable Development Goals. 

 

On 10 September 2020, H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand participated in ASEAN-Canada Ministerial Meeting via videoconference during the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meeting. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. U Kyaw Tin, Union Minister for International Cooperation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, in his capacity as Country Coordinator for ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations, and Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada.

 

​Vice Foreign Minister emphasised that ASEAN and Canada are “like-minded partners”, especially in promoting rules-based multilateralism and regionalism which is essential for strengthening trust and confidence in the region amidst the geopolitical and human security challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. He further underscored some concrete areas of cooperation between ASEAN and Canada, including enhancing human security in all dimensions, in particular public health security through ensuring supply of and access to anti-viral medicines and vaccines for COVID-19, leveraging digital connectivity, promoting financial inclusion among MSMEs and women entrepreneurs, as well as sustainable development cooperation through the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue in the areas that help ASEAN address new normal such as digital economy, smart agriculture, science technology and innovation.

 

​The Meeting discussed the future of ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations towards regional stability and growth as well as Post-COVID-19 recovery. This includes enhancing public health emergency preparedness, promoting political- security, peacekeeping and peacebuilding cooperation, advancing trade and investment ties including through a possible ASEAN-Canada FTA, promoting women’s economic empowerment, strengthening cybersecurity, as well as reinforcing people-to-people and youth connectivity. Moreover, the Meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues and adopted the Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Canada Enhanced Partnership (2021-2025).

 

​The Dialogue Relations between ASEAN and Canada were established in 1977 and later in 2010, Canada acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). ASEAN-Canada Ministerial Meeting during  ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meeting is an important annual platform for promoting cooperation and dynamism of ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations across all three ASEAN Community pillars.