DILI, 08 May 2025 (TATOLI) – The Director-General for ASEAN Affairs, Elisa da Silva, representing Milena Rangel, Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs and SOM Leader of Timor-Leste, participated as an observer in the 22nd ASEAN-Canada Dialogue held at the Amari Hotel in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.
The dialogue discussed the developments within both ASEAN and Canada and deliberated on the future trajectory of the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership. It also facilitated an exchange of views on regional and international developments of mutual interests and concerns.
Canada reiterated its support for ASEAN Community-building efforts and ASEAN’s central role in the evolving regional architecture. Canada highlighted that its relations with ASEAN remains a foreign policy priority of the country.
Both sides took stock of the progress made in ASEAN-Canada cooperation across all three pillars of the ASEAN Community and noted with satisfaction the robust implementation of all measures under the Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Canada Enhanced Partnership (2021-2025) ahead of its expiration at the end of 2025. The meeting looked forward to the adoption of the new ASEAN-Canada POA for 2026-2030 later this year.
In her general statement, Silva underscored that joining ASEAN remains a national priority and of strategic significance.
She expressed Timor-Leste’s gratitude for the support and capacity-building assistance provided by ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, and Dialogue Partners such as Canada. Timor-Leste is committed to implementing the Roadmap for full membership and looks forward to contributing to ASEAN’s community-building efforts and strengthening ASEAN-Canada cooperation across all pillars.
The 22nd ASEAN-Canada Dialogue was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR and SOM Leader of Lao PDR, Thongphane Savanphet, and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Indo-Pacific of Global Affairs Canada and SOM Leader of Canada, Weldon Epp. Senior officials of ASEAN Member States or their representatives and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community were also in attendance. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
Filomeno Aleixo da Cruz, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Lao PDR, and his team also participated in the dialogue. The event was attended by all ASEAN Member States, Canada, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
At the sidelines of the meeting, the Director-General for ASEAN Affairs and delegation also had a bilateral meeting with the delegation of Canada where both parties discussed ways to strengthen the bilateral relations and updates each other on Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN process.
TATOLI
