Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono said that the ASEAN-Canada partnership must be a solution to building a more resilient region.
JAKARTA - Ahead of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN's cooperation with Canada, which began in 1977, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said ASEAN's partnership with Canada must be part of the solution to building a better region, emphasizing the importance of maintaining security and peace.
Speaking at the ASEAN-Canada Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) in Manila, Philippines, Wednesday (22/7), Indonesia made economic, food, and energy resilience as a focus in encouraging the strengthening of the ASEAN-Canada partnership amid increasing global uncertainty. This was conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia,
"The partnership between ASEAN and Canada must be part of the solution to build a more resilient, prosperous, and peaceful region," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.
The ASEAN-Canada meeting this time adopted the ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action 2026-2030 as a strategic direction for cooperation in the next five years which includes cooperation in the fields of politics, security, economy, socio-culture, and cross-pillar cooperation.
As one of the priorities in the economic field, Indonesia encourages the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA) negotiations to be completed this year. This agreement is expected to expand market access, strengthen supply chains, encourage inclusive growth, and open up more opportunities for MSMEs, especially in penetrating the North American market.
As the world's largest producer and exporter of potash, Canada has a strategic role in supporting the food supply chain and ASEAN agricultural productivity. In this regard, Indonesia encourages the strengthening of food security as the foundation of a resilient region, including through the use of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) established by Canada in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia also emphasizes the importance of strengthening cooperation in the field of energy security as part of efforts to maintain regional stability. The holding of the Inaugural ASEAN-Canada Strategic Dialogue which took the theme of energy security in June 2026 is a concrete first step to deepen collaboration in this field.
The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs also emphasized the importance of maintaining security and peace, including by encouraging the strengthening of the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda through the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR). It was also emphasized that in the midst of increasing geopolitical tensions, multilateralism must remain the foundation for building trust, upholding international law consistently, and seeking common solutions, including for Palestine.