The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today concluded a successful visit to Indonesia and Vietnam. The visit focused on deepening our countries' already strong relationships and advancing shared priorities, including global security, gender equality, and fighting climate change.
During her visit, Minister Joly also underscored Canada's commitment to pursue active engagement with partner countries throughout the region as part of the forthcoming Canadian Indo-Pacific Strategy.
In Jakarta, Indonesia, Minister Joly met with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo and Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi regarding shared priorities, including a new Plan of Action that will strengthen the bilateral relationship, especially for post-pandemic recovery. The Ministers also shared perspectives on the importance of exploring a way for the G20 to address the war in Ukraine. Minister Joly also met with officials from ASEAN, to emphasize Canada's commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, with ASEAN at its core and to reaffirm our intent to raise our engagement to the level of Strategic Partner. The Minister also met with feminist leaders supporting gender equality and women empowerment in Indonesia.
In Hanoi, Vietnam, Minister Joly met with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, Foreign Affairs Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn, and Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên, to highlight the growing bilateral relationship underpinned by shared commitment to multilateralism, global security, and combatting climate change. Ministers Joly and Sơn also spoke about regional challenges as well as the increasing importance of the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asian region. In meeting with the Industry and Trade Minister, both Ministers discussed growing trade and investment particularly through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the newly established Joint Economic Committee. Minister Joly met with Vietnamese alumni from Canadian francophone universities, where she noted Canada and Vietnam's longstanding relationship through La Francophonie, notably through the Canadian Francophonie Scholarship established in 1987.
Minister Joly also visited the province of Thai Nguyen, Vietnam, to gain insights into the challenges faced by ethnic minority women and girls as well as women-led businesses, and hear first-hand how Canadian development assistance is helping to empower women-led business, promote innovation and address the impacts of climate change. Minister Joly also met Ms Nguyen Thanh Hai, Party Secretary of Thai Nguyen Province.
In Vietnam, Minister Joly announced $4.4 million in new funding for The Advancing Women's Economic Empowerment in Vietnam project, implemented by Care Canada in association with CARE International in Vietnam and local partners. This project will promote the rights of ethnic minority women by increasing their participation in paid economic activities, and strengthen their voice and leadership.
