Minister Dion to travel to Cambodia, Vietnam and Micronesia

September 1, 2016 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that he will travel to Cambodia and Vietnam from September 2 to 8 to advance Canada’s bilateral relations with these two emerging economies and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He will also travel to the Federated States of Micronesia from September 10 to 11 to enhance relations with Pacific island countries at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), where regional economic development and cooperation are priorities.

During his trip to Cambodia and Vietnam, Minister Dion will meet with his counterparts, members of government and the opposition to support capacity-building efforts that promote regional security, dialogue, trade and climate action. He will also meet with students, academics and woman entrepreneurs, as well as members of non-governmental organizations, to discuss the importance of gender parity and human rights as this rapidly developing part of the world focuses its efforts on the economy. For example, in Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Minister Dion will meet groups and individuals who are actively driving the region’s growth.

Minister Dion will then travel to Micronesia to participate in the 28th Post-Forum Dialogue Partners Meeting of the PIF. The Minister will discuss how Canada and Pacific island countries can tackle the critical issue of climate change and promote regional cooperation and trade, significant concerns for island nations and priorities for Canada. The Minister will also visit Canada-funded development projects that are empowering youth and women and are contributing to sustainable development throughout the Pacific Islands Region.

This will be Minister Dion’s first visit to Cambodia, Vietnam and Micronesia as minister of foreign affairs. It will also be the first time a Canadian minister of foreign affairs has attended a PIF dialogue partners meeting.

Quotes

Quick facts

• Canada established diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1973. It opened an embassy in Hanoi in 1994 and a consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City in 1997.
• Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Vietnam was valued at over $5 billion in 2015. This makes Vietnam is Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN and its 16th-largest merchandise trading partner in the world.
• Canada opened an office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in September 2015.
• Two-way merchandise trade with Cambodia reached a value of over $1 billion in 2015, an increase of almost 27 percent over the previous year.
• Micronesia is made up of 607 islands grouped into four states: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap.
• The PIF is a regional organization with 16 members and 17 dialogue partners, including Canada.

Associated links

• Canada-Cambodia relations
• Canada-Vietnam relations
• Canada-Micronesia relations
• Canada’s relations with ASEAN
• Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

Contacts

Chantal Gagnon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
343-203-1851
chantal.gagnon@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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