The Canadian authorities has requested for the Philippines’ assist in its ongoing negotiations for a free commerce settlement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
According to the Presidential Communications Office, Canadian Foreign Minister Mèlanie Joly raised the matter throughout her courtesy name on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang.
“Regarding trade, we are negotiating for a free trade agreement with ASEAN. So we hope that we could have the support of the Philippines. And we are also negotiating to become a strategic partner of ASEAN, recognizing the importance of ASEAN Centrality,” Joly stated.
“If we could work together to achieve that, that would be very much appreciated because we are bringing a lot of diplomatic knowledge and strength,” she added.
The Foreign Minister is within the nation for a three-day go to geared toward selling regional stability, and rules-based worldwide order and to debate Canada’s new Indo-Pacific technique with Philippine officers.
Marcos, for his half, welcomed Joly’s remarks, saying there are quite a few alternatives the 2 nations can establish “as potential areas for us to be able to move further.”
He additionally expressed his want for the Philippines to pursue a strategic partnership with Canada to strengthen their bilateral ties.
“On the issue of strategic partnership, I think it is something that certainly we can pursue. I cannot at the outset see anything that should get in the way of achieving this goal,” Marcos stated.
Joly stated the Canadian authorities needed to broaden its cooperation with the Philippines to incorporate different areas reminiscent of agriculture and to strengthen their people-to-people ties to the nation by providing extra scholarships for Filipinos.
Canada and the Philippines are set to mark their seventy fifth 12 months of bilateral relations in 2024. —NB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
