Vientiane, May 8 (AseanAll) — Senior Officials of ASEAN and Canada reaffirmed their commitment to further advancing ASEAN-Canada strategic partnership at the 22nd ASEAN-Canada Dialogue held on May 8, 2025 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Canada reiterated its support for ASEAN Community-building efforts and ASEAN’s central role in the evolving regional architecture. Canada highlighted that its relations with ASEAN remains a foreign policy priority of the country.

Both sides took stock of the progress made in ASEAN-Canada cooperation across all three pillars of the ASEAN Community and noted with satisfaction the robust implementation of all measures under the Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Canada Enhanced Partnership (2021-2025) ahead of its expiration at the end of 2025. The meeting looked forward to the adoption of the new ASEAN-Canada POA for 2026-2030 later this year.

The Senior Officials looked forward to the substantial conclusion of the negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement this year, which will strengthen ASEAN-Canada economic relations, connect ASEAN and Canada closer to the global value chain, and improve market access for both ASEAN and Canadian private sector.

ASEAN and Canada continued to enhance cooperation across strategic areas including maritime cooperation, combating transnational crime, cyber security, Artificial Intelligence, trade and investment, digital economy, finance, connectivity, infrastructure, transportation, sustainable development, renewable energy, food security, environment and climate change, science, technology and innovation, inclusion, youth and women empowerment, people-to-people exchange, education, tourism, sports, health, and disaster management.

Both sides also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of common interest and concern, including the challenges posed by geopolitical tensions and global trade turmoil, the situations in Myanmar, South China Sea, Korean Peninsula, the Middle East and Ukraine.

The 22nd ASEAN-Canada Dialogue was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR and SOM Leader of Lao PDR, Thongphane Savanphet, and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Indo-Pacific of Global Affairs Canada and SOM Leader of Canada, Weldon Epp. Senior officials of ASEAN Member States or their representatives and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community were also in attendance. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.