Kuala lumpur: The ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Canada convened in Kuala Lumpur from 10.15am to 11.15am on 10 July 2025. This significant meeting was co-chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR Thongsavanh Phomvihane, serving as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations, alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Anita Anand. The conference brought together the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member States and unfolded concurrently with the Post-Ministerial Conference with Australia, highlighting ASEAN’s commitment to engaging with partners during a crucial time for regional cooperation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the meeting was a platform to review the growing ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership and discuss potential collaboration avenues aligned with ASEAN’s objectives. The ministers expressed optimism about the progress in negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA), acknowledging its promise to boost cooperation in emerging sectors such as digital trade, artificial intelligence, green technology, and clean energy. The anticipated synergy between ACAFTA and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy was viewed as a catalyst for sustainable growth, regulatory alignment, and enhancing economic resilience inclusively.