Canada taps PH support in ASEAN free trade talks
Marcos eyes boosting PH-Canada ties
Canada has asked the Philippines to support its free trade negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to be the bloc's strategic partner, citing the diplomatic knowledge and strength both parties can benefit from the partnership.
*PH-CANADA TIES - President Marcos holds a bilateral meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Mèlanie Joly in Malacañang, on May 18, 2023. (Malacañang photo)*
Canadian Foreign Minister Mèlanie Joly said this during her courtesy call on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Thursday, May 18. In her remarks, Joly cited the importance of ASEAN Centrality in Canada's bid to establish ties with ASEAN. "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 negotiating also to become a strategic partner of ASEAN, recognizing the importance of ASEAN Centrality," she said. "So 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. In response, President Marcos said there were many opportunities the two countries could identify "as potential areas for us to be able to move further." He also expressed his desire for the Philippines to pursue a strategic partnership with Canada to strengthen their bilateral ties further. "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," the President told Joly. Joly said Canada and the Philippines have enjoyed strong friendship for many decades because of people-to-people ties, and her country is ready to further strengthen collaboration in that area. "We will also be working even more on strengthening people-to-people ties by offering more scholarships for Filipinos," she told Marcos. According to the Canadian foreign minister, her country will expand cooperation with the Philippines to include other areas, such as agriculture. Canada and the Philippines are set to mark their 75th year of bilateral relations in 2024.
*PH-CANADA TIES - President Marcos holds a bilateral meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Mèlanie Joly in Malacañang, on May 18, 2023. (Malacañang photo)*
Canadian Foreign Minister Mèlanie Joly said this during her courtesy call on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Thursday, May 18. In her remarks, Joly cited the importance of ASEAN Centrality in Canada's bid to establish ties with ASEAN. "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 negotiating also to become a strategic partner of ASEAN, recognizing the importance of ASEAN Centrality," she said. "So 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. In response, President Marcos said there were many opportunities the two countries could identify "as potential areas for us to be able to move further." He also expressed his desire for the Philippines to pursue a strategic partnership with Canada to strengthen their bilateral ties further. "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," the President told Joly. Joly said Canada and the Philippines have enjoyed strong friendship for many decades because of people-to-people ties, and her country is ready to further strengthen collaboration in that area. "We will also be working even more on strengthening people-to-people ties by offering more scholarships for Filipinos," she told Marcos. According to the Canadian foreign minister, her country will expand cooperation with the Philippines to include other areas, such as agriculture. Canada and the Philippines are set to mark their 75th year of bilateral relations in 2024.