Canada promotes peace and development in the South China Sea region

Expert Randolph Mank assessed that Canada will increase its presence in Southeast Asia and strengthen relations with ASEAN member countries, considering Vietnam an important partner.

Canada thúc đẩy hòa bình và phát triển tại khu vực Biển Đông ảnh 1

Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ma Theresa P. Lazaro (left) speaks at the conference. (Source: Vietnam+)

Canada's Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa organized a workshop on the South China Sea with topics focusing on ways to ensure this sea is free, open, developed and governed by the rule of law.

Mr. Jonathan Miller, Director of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said the workshop not only addressed legal issues but also food security, biodiversity and energy transport routes through the East Sea.

The workshop attracted the attention of many experts, scholars and Canadian officials in many fields from political security to socio-economics, along with many officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy.

Speaking at the workshop, Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ma Theresa P. Lazaro appreciated Canada's interest in the ASEAN region as well as the East Sea issue, affirming that the Philippines is ready to cooperate closely with Canada and its partners to maintain a more peaceful, stable and developed region.

[Vietnam is Canada's important defense partner in ASEAN]

Speaking to VNA reporters on the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Randolph Mank, former Canadian Ambassador and Chairman of Mank Global, said that Canada will increase its presence in Southeast Asia and strengthen relations with ASEAN member countries, considering Vietnam an important partner and a potential production center in the technology sector in the context of bilateral relations, especially in the field of trade, being well developed.

In November 2022, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs first issued the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which affirmed that Canada will diversify relations, promote regional institutions based on rules, and push back unilateral actions in the East Sea./.

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