Trudeau to attend ASEAN summit in Laos, plans to strengthen trade, security ties – National
Justin Trudeau will travel to Laos later this week for the ASEAN Summitmarking what his office says is the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to the Southeast Asian country.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings will take place Thursday and Friday in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, after which the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Trudeau will attend the 25th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukrainian defense at the American air base in Ramstein, Germany.
The ASEAN bloc and Canada have committed to signing a trade deal by the end of 2025, and Canada last year entered into a strategic partnership with the organization of 10 South Asian member countries. Southeast.
As work toward a trade deal continues, Trudeau’s office said he will also meet with partners at the special ASEAN-Canada summit, where he will highlight Canada’s role in responding to new and emerging challenges peace and security, including cybercrime.
The Prime Minister’s Office says ASEAN, as a regional bloc, represents Canada’s fourth largest trading partner, with more than $38.8 billion in bilateral trade in 2023.
His office says Trudeau will “strive to advance common interests and forge even stronger ties” between Canada and Laos as the two countries celebrate 50 years of bilateral relations this year.
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“Shared challenges require shared solutions – that’s the goal of the ASEAN Summit and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group,” Trudeau said in a press release about the upcoming meetings.
“Whether it’s fighting climate change, creating good-paying jobs or strengthening democracy, Canada plays a leadership role in creating a better, safer and more just future for people from all over the world.
The Ukrainian Defense Contact Group meeting in Germany will take place on Saturday and will be chaired by US President Joe Biden.
The Prime Minister’s Office said Trudeau would emphasize the importance of addressing Ukraine’s immediate economic, defense and security needs, including the provision of military equipment, security assistance and training.
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