Canada is expectant on receiving support from the Philippines regarding its free trade negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In a press release on Friday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly brought up the topic regarding their negotiation for a free trade agreement with ASEAN during her courtesy call on President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Thursday, May 18.
It said that Minister Joly also mentioned to Marcos their intentions to make Asean their strategic partner.
“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,” the Foreign Minister said, as quoted by PCO.
According to the communications office, the President also expressed his aspiration for the Philippines to establish a strategic partnership with Canada to improve 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 told the Canadian Foreign Minister.
The chief executive also said that there are numerous opportunities that Canada and the Philippines can “identify as potential areas for us to be able to move further.”
Joly said that Canada is prepared to expand their cooperation with the country in other areas like agriculture.
Next year, Canada and the Philippines will celebrate 75 years of bilateral ties. The relationship between the two countries first started in 1949.
Wrriten by Dana Abreo, DZRH News Online intern
