(UPDATE) PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau invited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday to visit Canada next year to mark the two countries’ 75 years of diplomatic relations.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to visit Canada next year as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations. Photo from PCO
During the Philippine-Canada bilateral meeting, Trudeau extended the invitation as he expressed his gladness to sit down again with Marcos.
“Next year, we are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. It will be celebrated. But the reality is, the trade ties, economic ties between our countries continue to grow, the opportunities for investment, the flow of people back and forth as well. The Filipino Canadian diaspora is incredibly important to all of us,” Trudeau said.
Marcos said he was equally happy to meet the Canadian leader again.
Canada, he said, has become the much-desired destination for many Filipino workers.
“I’m very optimistic about the future, and I cannot see any obstacles to our continually and deepening relations,” Marcos said.
The two leaders discussed trade and investments in clean, renewable energy and critical minerals exploration and processing, cooperation in agri-science and urban agriculture in view of Canada’s planned regional agriculture office in Manila, and expanding cooperation in education.
