Trudeau to attend ASEAN summit in Laos, eyeing stronger trade and security ties
The ASEAN bloc and Canada have pledged to ink a trade agreement by the end of 2025, and Canada entered a strategic partnership with the 10-member organization of Southeast Asian countries last year.
Justin Trudeau is set to visit Laos later this week for the ASEAN summit, marking the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to the Southeast Asian nation, according to his office.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings will be held in Vientiane, Laos' capital, on Thursday and Friday. Following this, Trudeau will attend the 25th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at the U.S. air base in Ramstein, Germany, according to the PMO.
Canada and ASEAN have committed to finalizing a trade agreement by the end of 2025, and last year Canada entered into a strategic partnership with the 10-member Southeast Asian organization.
As negotiations on the trade agreement progress, Trudeau will also participate in the ASEAN-Canada Special Summit, where he will underscore Canada’s role in tackling new and emerging challenges to peace and security, including cybercrime. The PMO noted that ASEAN represents Canada’s fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $38.8 billion in 2023.
Trudeau’s office said he "will work to advance shared interests and forge even stronger ties" with Laos as the two countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations this year.
"Shared challenges require shared solutions — that’s what the ASEAN Summit and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group are all about," Trudeau said in a statement. "Whether it’s fighting climate change, creating good-paying jobs, or strengthening democracy, Canada is playing a leadership role in creating a better, safer, and fairer future for people across the world."
The Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, will take place on Saturday in Germany. Trudeau is expected to emphasize the importance of addressing Ukraine’s immediate needs in terms of economic support, defense, and security, including the supply of military equipment, security assistance, and training.