Canadian Foreign Minister to Advance Economic Relations on ASEAN Trip

Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion will focus on bilateral relations with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries Cambodia and Vietnam during a trip to the two countries from September 2-8, Global Affairs Canada said in a statement on Thursday.

WASHINGTO (Sputnik) — The ministry said Dion will meet with his Vietnamese and Cambodian counterparts to support security, dialogue, trade and climate action efforts.

"[Dion] today announced that he will travel to Cambodia and Vietnam from September 2 to 8 to advance Canada’s bilateral relations with these two emerging economies and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," the statement noted.

Additionally, Dion will participate in the 28th Pacific Islands Forum Post-Forum Dialogue Partners Meeting in Micronesia on September 10 and 11.

Vietnam is Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN and its 16th-largest merchandise trading partner in the world. Two-way merchandise trade with Cambodia increased more than 27 percent from 2014 to 2015 to reach a value of over $1 billion, according to Global Affairs Canada.