The Canadian Ministry of International Trade has stated the country willfurther advance ties with ASEAN member nations as the regional bloc isone of the important strategic pillars of Canada.

Theministry made the announcement in a statement released on August 8 tocongratulate the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on theoccasion of its 46 founding anniversary.

Meeting with the mediaon August 8, Canadian Minister of International Trade Ed Fast saidrelations between Canada and ASEAN member countries have expandedconsiderably over the past three and a half decades, adding that hewants the partnership to grow even stronger through deeper trade andinvestment ties.

Fast informed that he will attend the ASEANEconomic Ministers’ Meeting in Brunei on August 20-21 and a regionalconference on investment and trade on the fringe of the meeting.

The same day, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said Ottawa hascommitted to additional funding for ASEAN-Canada cooperationinitiatives, including three development schemes.

Canadawill also continue to support the goal of an ASEAN Community in 2015 andincrease Canada-ASEAN engagement to its fullest potential.

ASEAN comprises 10 Southeast Asian countries—Brunei, Cambodia,Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA