The official visit to Thailand of Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada during 22-24 March 2012 provided not only an opportunity for the two Prime Ministers to discuss the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, but also a chance to emphasize the importance of ASEAN-Canada relations, which celebrated its 35th Anniversary this year.
After the joint press conference on 23 March 2012 at Government House, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Prime Minister Stephen Harper jointly commemorated the 35th Anniversary of ASEAN-Canada relations by taking a photo with the anniversary logo presented by Miss Chonnikanta Yoojai, the Thai student who designed the winning logo.
To this end, the present Canadian government has reiterated on many occasions that Canada is an Asia-Pacific nation that enjoys close relations with ASEAN and Asia in all aspects, namely political and security, economic, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people connectivity. Canada has been keenly following developments in ASEAN and stands ready to strengthen her cooperation with ASEAN, as well as to play a more constructive role in Asia.
As the country coordinator for ASEAN-Canada relations during the period from 2009-2012, Thailand has so far played an active role in forging relations between ASEAN and Canada, including the adoption of the Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on the ASEAN-Canada Enhanced Partnership 2010-2015, Canada?s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in July 2010, as well as the endorsement of the Joint Declaration on Trade and Investment in October 2011.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th