Hanoi (VNA) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Japanesecounterpart Shinzo Abe have spoken highly of the Comprehensive and ProgressiveAgreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which took effect earlier thisyear.

Speakingat a joint press conference in Ottawa, Canada on April 28, the two leadersaffirmed that the CPTPP has benefited tremendously citizens andbusinesses of the signatories.

CanadianPM Trudeau reiterated that the agreement continues to move forward on freer and more open trade,according to the rules that the sides can all agree on, is something neededmore in the world.

Hesaid exports of beef products from Canada to Japan had increased nearlythreefold in recent months, stressing the benefits of countries workingtogether and not falling back onprotectionism.

Forhis part, Japanese PM Abe, who is paying a visit to Canada, underlined thatCPTPP should be a model going forward. He added that Canada and Japan would work to expand the number of nationsinside the CPTPP.

When the CPTPP officially came into effect, it removed trade barriers among 11 nations, including Vietnam,representing nearly 500 million consumers in the Asia-Pacific region.-VNA