Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Allow me at the outset to welcome the Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the ASEAN-Canada Summit, [inaudible] join us once again with the leaders of ASEAN.

Your Majesty, Your Excellencies

Today, we welcome a new era in ASEAN-Canada relations as we adopt the Joint Leaders’ Statement on ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership. This is indeed timely as Canada deepens its relations with ASEAN with the launch of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy last November.

Upholding ASEAN Centrality, the Strategy seeks to promote peace, resilience, and security; expand trade, investment, and supply chain resilience; invest in and connect people; build a sustainable and green future in the Indo-Pacific region with ASEAN at its core. To further expand mutual trade, we should continue efforts at enhancing ASEAN connectivity and supply chains.

We certainly welcome the initiatives under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, such as training on smart border patrols, addressing crime and terrorism, and military-to-military capacity building, to name but a few.

We recognize Canada’s role in promoting maritime security and safety in the region. We welcome Canada’s continued engagement through capacity-building programs, specialized and skill-based training to counter traditional and emerging threats.

We recognize the collaborative programs between ASEAN and Canada that are highlighted in the ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action Trust Fund, which directs funding towards the priority areas aligned with the ASEAN-Canada Action Plan 2021-2025, ASEAN’s Community Vision 2025, and its Post-2025 Community Vision. This contribution aims to advance important trade negotiations and strengthen our partnership.

We appreciate Canada’s continued support for education in ASEAN with its Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) program which recently received a further 14 million Canadian Dollar investment.

We also welcome Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, which Canada has been at the forefront, including Canada’s support for the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.

This further demonstrates: ASEAN and Canada are undoubtedly natural allies, with shared values and mutual interests across all the pillars of the ASEAN Community.

It is clear that the growing and deepening strategic partnership of ASEAN and Canada will further advance peace, security, stability, resilience, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Thank you.

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