Jakarta. Chief Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto led the Indonesian delegation on behalf of Vice President Ma’ruf Amin at the Special ASEAN-Canada Summit, held on Thursday, at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos. The summit took place during the second day of Laos' ASEAN Chairmanship.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with ASEAN heads of government for the third time, emphasizing the significance of engagement with the world's fastest-growing region. He highlighted ASEAN as a dynamic and attractive area for global partnerships.

In welcoming Prime Minister Trudeau, Minister Airlangga said that ASEAN must continue integrating with other regions, and Canada, being part of the Indo-Pacific, sees ASEAN as a central partner. He added that Canada’s role as a strategic dialogue partner aligns with the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) framework, fostering inclusive cooperation for peace and prosperity.

Minister Airlangga highlighted Canada's potential in clean energy technology, education, critical minerals, and access to the US market. He proposed innovative ideas for strengthening ASEAN-Canada cooperation, particularly in energy transition technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and palm oil-based fuels. He emphasized the importance of finalizing free trade negotiations between Canada and ASEAN by next year to enhance market access and global supply chains.

Minister Airlangga also underscored the need for deeper collaboration in food security, referencing the 2023 ASEAN-Canada Joint Leaders' Statement on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition. He urged further cooperation through the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) in Manila, focusing on agricultural technology and sustainable food systems.

The minister was joined by Chief Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. ASEAN leaders addressed other critical issues, such as strengthening digital sector cooperation and enhancing people-to-people connections, including expanding the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) program.

In his closing speech, Prime Minister Trudeau welcomed Indonesia’s proposal for cooperation on Small Modular Reactors, noting Canada’s strengths in nuclear and renewable energy. The summit concluded with the adoption of the Joint Leaders' Statement on Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience, focusing on regional connectivity and resilience.

Despite challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2023 economic slowdown, trade relations between ASEAN and Canada have improved over the past five years, with total trade valued at $20.27 billion in 2023, up from $17.15 billion in 2019. Canadian investment in ASEAN has also remained stable, with the exception of 2022, when it dropped to $825 million from the usual $3-4 billion.