CANADA, umaasa ng suporta ng Pinas sa free trade negotiations nito sa ASEAN

NANAWAGAN ang Canada sa Pilipinas na suportahan ang free trade negotiations nito sa Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), tinukoy  ang kahalagahan ng  ASEAN Centrality.

“Regarding trade, we are negotiating for a free trade agreement with ASEAN. So we hope that we could have the support of the Philippines. And we are negotiating also to become a strategic partner of ASEAN, recognizing the importance of ASEAN Centrality,”  ayon kay Canadian Foreign Minister Mèlanie Joly sa  courtesy call nito kay Pangulong  Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa Palasyo ng Maakanyang, araw ng Huwebes.

“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,” ayon kay Joly.

Bilang tugon, sinabi naman ni Pangulong Marcos na mayroong maraming oportunidad na maaaring ma-identify ng dalawang bansa “as potential areas for us to be able to move further.”

Nagpahayag din si Joly ng kanyang hangarin para sa Pilipinas na isulong ang strategic partnership sa Canada upang mas lalo pang palakasin ang 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,” ang sinbai ng Pangulo kay Joly.

Winika ni Joly na labis na ikinatuwa ng Canada at Pilipinas ang malakas at matatag na pagkakaibigan nito sa maraming dekada dahil ang  people-to-people ties, at kanyang bansa ay handa na mas palakasin pa ang koloborasyon sa nasabing aspeto.

“We will also be working even more on strengthening people-to-people ties by offering more scholarships for Filipinos,” ani Joly.

Winika pa ni Joly, palalawigin ng kanyang bansa ang kooperasyon sa Pilipinas kabilang na sa larangan ng  agrikultura.

Nakatakda namang ipagdiwang ng Canada at Pilipinas ang kanilang 75 taong  bilateral relations sa 2024. (Daris Jose)