AEM CHAIR’S OPENING REMARKS : THE FOURTEENTH AEM-CANADA CONSULTATION
26 SEPTEMBER 2025
0905–1030 HRS
BALLROOM, LEVEL 3, MITEC
KUALA LUMPUR
SPEAKING NOTES
OPENING REMARKS FOR AEM CHAIR
Excellency Mr. Yasir Naqvi, Honourable Ministers, esteemed delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning and Selamat Datang to Kuala Lumpur. It is both an honour and privilege, as Chair of the ASEAN Economic Ministers, to welcome you to the 14th AEM–Canada Consultation. On behalf of ASEAN, I extend our warm appreciation to Excellency Mr. Yasir Naqvi and the Canadian delegation for your enduring partnership, and to the ASEAN Secretariat for your steadfast support in strengthening our shared economic agenda.
This meeting holds particular significance. It is taking place at a time when the regional and global economic landscapes are undergoing profound shifts from intensifying geoeconomic rivalry, to the rise of new protectionist measures, and the ongoing reconfiguration of supply chains and trade rules. In this fast-changing environment, ASEAN continues to stand as a trusted, reliable, and forward-looking partner for like-minded countries such as Canada. We are open, outward-looking, and remain committed to rules-based trade that fosters real opportunities for our people and businesses.
Our partnership with Canada is built on nearly five decades of trust and shared prosperity. With Canada’s elevation to an ASEAN Strategic Partner in 2022, we have taken this partnership to a new level. Central to this vision is the ongoing negotiations of the ASEAN–Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA). Once concluded, ACAFTA will not only deepen Canada’s integration into ASEAN’s dynamic region but will also unlock new drivers of growth in the digital economy, green transition, and resilient supply chains. In short, ACAFTA is not just about trade, it is about securing a shared, competitive, and sustainable future for us all.
At the same time, we are preparing to close the 2021–2025 Joint Declaration on Trade and Investment (JDTI) Work Plan and endorse the new 2026–2030 Work Plan. This demonstrates our commitment to sustaining the momentum of our cooperation, future-proofing ASEAN-Canada collaboration, and ensuring that it remains relevant and impactful.
Excellencies, today’s consultation is about more than reviewing past progress. It is about setting the tone for the next chapter of ASEAN–Canada relations. Guided by mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for an inclusive and open economic order, I am confident that we can chart a path forward that makes ASEAN–Canada one of the most dynamic and trusted partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
Thank you.
[Inviting for Canada’s remarks.]
Before we proceed with the agenda, may I now invite our Co-Chair, Excellency Mr. Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and Secretary of State, Canada, to deliver his opening remarks.
[Pause for Canada’s remarks.]
Thank you, Excellency Mr. Yasir Naqvi.
--BERNAMA