Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to visit Laos later this week for the ASEAN Summit, which he announced will be the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to a Southeast Asian country.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings will be held in Laos’ capital Vientiane on Thursday and Friday, after which Trudeau will attend the 25th Ukraine Defense Liaison Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, the PMO announced.
ASEAN countries and Canada have committed to a trade agreement by the end of 2025, and Canada last year entered into a strategic partnership with the 10-member organization of Southeast Asian countries.
While work continues on the trade agreement, Prime Minister Trudeau will also meet with partners at the ASEAN-Canada Special Summit, where he will discuss Canada’s role in addressing new and emerging challenges to peace and security, including cybercrime. Prime Minister Trudeau’s office says emphatically.
As a regional bloc, ASEAN is Canada’s fourth largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at more than $38.8 billion in 2023, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
As Canada and Laos mark 50 years of bilateral relations this year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will “work to advance common interests and build a stronger relationship” between Canada and Laos, the prime minister’s office said. .
“Common challenges require common solutions. That is the purpose of the ASEAN Summit and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group,” Trudeau said in a news release about the upcoming meeting.
“Whether it’s fighting climate change, creating good-paying jobs or strengthening democracy, Canada is playing a leadership role in building a better, safer and more just future for people around the world. Masu.”
The Ukraine Defense Liaison Group meeting in Germany will be held on Saturday and will be hosted by US President Joe Biden.
The PMO said Trudeau will emphasize the importance of addressing Ukraine’s pressing economic, defense and security needs, including the provision of military equipment, security assistance and training.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2024.
