Minister Ng meets with Secretary-General of Association of Southeast Asian Nations

August 21, 2023 – Semarang, Indonesia – Global Affairs Canada 

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.

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• Minister Ng meets with Secretary-General of Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Associated links

• Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement
• Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
• ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific
• Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
• Canada names location for new Indo-Pacific agriculture and agri-food office
• Prime Minister’s announcements at the ASEAN-Canada Commemorative Summit
• Minister Ng reinforces Canada-ASEAN relations at successful meeting in Cambodia with ASEAN economic ministers
• Minister Ng to attend Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Indonesia