National

Trudeau to visit Indonesia, Singapore and India next week as Canada seeks trade deals

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Aug, 2023 10:57 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed to Asia next week for a whirlwind tour of Indonesia, Singapore and India.

The trip involves the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi, and a focus on economic ties in booming regions of Southeast Asia, as Canada seeks alternatives to a rising China.

In Jakarta, Trudeau will attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where the group of 10 countries that will ratify a strategic-partnership agreement with Canada.

The next stop in Singapore will involve meeting with the city-state's head of government and business leaders to promote investment in Canada and Canadian exports.

Trudeau will then attend the G20 summit where he plans to focus on collaboration on climate change, reforming international finance for poorer states and energy security.

A news release suggests Trudeau is slated to spend just two days in each country, with a focus on boosting trade and affordability.

Ottawa is in negotiations for separate trade agreements with India, Indonesia and also ASEAN as a bloc.

At the G20, the Liberals say Trudeau will advocate for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, yet many members of the Group of 20 have opted against criticizing Moscow.

"Working collaboratively to tackle global crises while holding Russia accountable is essential to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the G20," a Wednesday news release from Trudeau's office says.

The summit's host, India, has been reluctant to discuss the issue in other G20 events this year, and declined request from countries like Canada to have Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attend the summit.

The Liberals are framing the trip around their Indo-Pacific strategy, which they released in November 2022 with the goal of seeking closer economic and defence ties with countries other than China.

Trade Minister Mary Ng is set to accompany Trudeau on the Indonesia and Singapore legs of his trip, but not in India.

That’s a wrap on the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers Meeting in India!

Gatherings like these are an opportunity for us to take stock of our shared priorities and address the challenges facing trade today. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/WWgoZtEDd0
— Mary Ng (@mary_ng) August 27, 2023

While here, I also met with business leaders at the Business 20 (B20) in Delhi. From clean tech innovators, to manufacturers, to chambers of commerce, to investment experts and many more, these businesses bring our trade agreements to life. (3/4) pic.twitter.com/2AHC27XiI6
— Mary Ng (@mary_ng) August 27, 2023

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Trudeau announces new supports for Ukraine

Canada will extend the Operation Unifier mission to provide engineering training in Ukraine until at least October, and Canadian medical trainers will be sent to help Ukrainian forces with combat medical skills.

Trudeau announces new supports for Ukraine

Eby: Feds need to reform bail system now

Eby, speaking at a news conference, says B.C. residents are "very frustrated — and rightly so — with the small group of repeat, violent offenders" who are "cycling in and out" of the justice system.

Eby: Feds need to reform bail system now

B.C. invests $200 million in food security

Eby says the "historic" investment in B.C.'s food security comes as a direct response to events that occurred in the past few years, when flooding, wildfires and COVID supply-chain bottlenecks "essentially cut off" crucial supply lines in the province.

B.C. invests $200 million in food security

'Impossible to deny' hate increase in B.C.: report

Kasari Govender released a nearly 500-page report Tuesday detailing the results of her office's public inquiry into hate incidents during the pandemic. The report says hate incidents have increased dramatically during the pandemic, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities, along with increases in gender-based violence, and online hate.

'Impossible to deny' hate increase in B.C.: report

B.C. overdose figure tops 200 again: coroner

A statement from the coroner's office says the death rate in January was 47 people per 100,000, more than double the 20.5 death rate that prompted B.C.'s medical health officer to declare the emergency almost seven years ago.

B.C. overdose figure tops 200 again: coroner

Immigration minister meeting counterpart in D.C.

Sean Fraser's office said the minister would be meeting with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas before he holds a news conference at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.