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| Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam, and SOM Heads of ASEAN countries attended the 20th annual ASEAN-Canada Dialogue held from May 29-30 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |
The SOM Heads of Malaysia and Canada co-chaired this activity with the SOM Heads of ASEAN countries.
The countries welcomed the good progress of the ASEAN-Canada Enhanced Partnership. Last year, the two sides successfully coordinated to organize the Summit to celebrate the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-Canada relations (Phnom Penh, November 2022) and effectively implemented the ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action for the period 2021-2025 with 88/103 action lines implemented, reaching a high rate of 85.4%.
The meeting appreciated the fact that in 2022 two-way trade turnover reached 18.9 billion USD.
Canada affirms that ASEAN is the focus of its newly announced Indo-Pacific Strategy, commits to supporting ASEAN's central role, and is ready to coordinate with ASEAN to seek cooperation opportunities in priority areas of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
ASEAN countries welcomed Canada's support for ASEAN in building the Community, establishing a Trust Fund worth 13.1 million Canadian dollars (CAD), with an initial contribution of 500 thousand CAD, to support the implementation of cooperation activities within the framework of the ASEAN-Canada Action Plan for the period 2021-2025.
Orienting cooperation, ASEAN and Canada shared the view that this is an important time for both sides to coordinate efforts to implement the Leaders' direction and establish the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership.
Accordingly, the two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in existing fields, while promoting and expanding cooperation in trade, investment, maritime security cooperation, education, training and human resource development, science, technology and innovation, disaster management, climate change response, energy, etc.
ASEAN countries request Canada to devote adequate attention and resources, propose and implement substantive and effective cooperation programs, projects and activities that meet the current needs and concerns of both sides, especially in line with the development orientation of the ASEAN Community after 2025.
Canada reaffirmed its support for ASEAN's centrality and efforts to build trust through ASEAN mechanisms. The Canadian SOM Chief affirmed his support for ASEAN's stance on the East Sea and efforts to build an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Appreciating the nearly half-century relationship between ASEAN and Canada, Ambassador Vu Ho affirmed that Vietnam supports upgrading ASEAN-Canada relations to a new level, commits to closely cooperate with ASEAN countries and Canada to realize the Leaders' commitment, and soon establish the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership.
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| Overview of the 20th ASEAN-Canada Annual Dialogue. |
Speaking on behalf of ASEAN on Connectivity, Infrastructure, and Transport , Ambassador Vu Ho emphasized that these are important areas of cooperation, helping to bring ASEAN and Canada closer.
Emphasizing the importance of strategic, green and sustainable infrastructure development, the Ambassador hopes that Canada will provide ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, with support in green finance, green, clean and cheap technology, capacity building, experience sharing, contributing to promoting sustainable development in the region.
The Ambassador also asked Canada to pay attention to and support efforts to narrow the development gap and develop sub-regions in ASEAN, prioritizing cooperation in the management and sustainable use of water resources, responding to climate change and rising sea levels, especially in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.
The Ambassador suggested that the two sides promote trade and investment, stabilize supply chains, support businesses in accessing markets, and create favorable conditions for exporting goods.
Regarding people-to-people exchanges, cultural exchanges, education, training, and support for the development of high-quality human resources, the Ambassador suggested that Canada create favorable conditions for the community of more than 1 million Canadians of Southeast Asian origin, including about 240,000 Vietnamese people, to do business and live legally under Canadian law.
Expressing concerns about the complexities in the region, including developments in the East Sea, Ambassador Vu Ho emphasized the responsibility of all parties for peace and stability in the East Sea and in the region.
The Ambassador reaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance, upholding the rule of law, exercising restraint, avoiding actions that go against the spirit of the DOC, are contrary to international law, violate UNCLOS 1982, erode trust, and negatively affect efforts to maintain regional peace. At the same time, the Ambassador asked Canada to support ASEAN's efforts to build an effective and efficient COC in accordance with international law and UNCLOS 1982, thereby contributing to making the East Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and development.
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