PH, Canada elevate ties to strategic partnership, sign deals on energy, labor

VANCOUVER, Canada, July 3 ------ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the elevation of the Philippine-Canada relations to strategic partnership, following his bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Vancouver Convention Center during his official visit in Vancouver, Canada. “We have tasked our foreign ministers to draw up a Plan of Action to pursue our shared commitment to work together in adapting to shifting global realities, addressing shared challenges, and building capacities for a future-ready partnership," Marcos said in a joint statement with the Canadian leader.

Carney, for his part, took note of the free trade agreements on the pipeline as "foundation" of the elevated partnership between the two nations. "Together, we are launching a new era of cooperation, deepening our collaboration in trade and energy, defense and tourism," he said. "We have a prospect of tripling our bilateral trade both directions by 2035, great opportunities for business," he added.

He reaffirmed commitment in concluding negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by the upcoming summit this year with Philippines as host. “This agreement, once constituted, will reduce tariffs, in some cases fully eliminate them, for our exports, help give Canadian workers and businesses access to a 5 trillion market of over 700 million people,” he said.

Carney noted that that they are “making good progress” in finalizing negotiations on the Canada-Philippines Free Trade Agreement which the two leaders had earlier committed to be completed this year. The Canadian leader also recognized the contributions of Filipinos in Canada and highlighted its endeavor in deepening partnerships with like-minded nations such as the Philippines which he regarded as one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

The two countries also signed deals on various areas of cooperation as a result of an expanded bilateral meeting between the two countries. These are Joint Declarations of Intent concerning energy and natural resources, labor and migration and cultural cooperation and memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com