The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, met with Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) in Indonesia.
During the meeting, Minister Ng thanked Secretary-General Kao for his ongoing support in finalizing the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership this year.
Minister Ng highlighted the progress made in negotiations toward the Canada-ASEAN Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) and thanked Secretary-General Hourn for his support. She reiterated the importance of the FTA to increase and diversify the trade and investment relationship and build stronger economic and people-to-people ties between Canada and ASEAN Member States.
The Minister also noted Canada's commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties through its Indo-Pacific Strategy, which aligns with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The two discussed how these initiatives will grow and diversify our economic ties with ASEAN and its member states.
Minister Ng and Secretary-General Kao said they look forward to the ASEAN-Canada Summit in September, where the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership will be officially launched.
