Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand underscored promotion of inclusive economic growth at the ASEAN-Canada Ministerial Meeting

วันที่นำเข้าข้อมูล 5 Aug 2021

วันที่ปรับปรุงข้อมูล 30 Nov 2022

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The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand attended ASEAN-Canada Ministerial Meeting where he underscored promotion of inclusive economic growth and advocated the BCG economic model as a solution towards COVID-19 recovery.

On 5 August 2021, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, attended the ASEAN-Canada Ministerial Meeting via videoconference during the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada and his Myanmar counterpart as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations.

The Meeting discussed the advancement of ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The focus was on the joint efforts to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic, including through Canada’s contribution of CAD 3.5 million to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund. The Meeting also discussed how to take forwards ASEAN-Canada cooperation in other areas that are mutually beneficial, such as combating transnational crime, cybersecurity, trade and investment especially on MSMEs development, enhanced regional connectivity, gender equality, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, disaster management and relief, labour migration, and education. The Meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues, where Canada reiterated its continued support for ASEAN Centrality and principles under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). Canada also proposed to convene the ASEAN-Canada Commemorative Summit to mark the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations in 2022.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand emphasised that ASEAN and Canada are “like-minded partners”, specifically in promoting multilateralism. He also suggested areas of cooperation that could contribute to a robust COVID-19 recovery, namely (1) enhancing competitiveness and inclusive economic growth through a launch of the ASEAN-Canada FTA negotiation, digital development of MSMEs, and enhanced financial access and new innovation for women entrepreneurs; and (2) promoting a green paradigm shift 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. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand also urged that an enabling environment of trust and confidence in the region will be key to post-pandemic economic revival.

The Meeting was concluded with the handover of the Country Coordinatorship for ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations from Myanmar to Malaysia, who will serve for the period of 2021-2024.

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