Jakarta (ANTARA) – Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Canada have agreed to adopt a joint declaration on strengthening food and nutrition security in response to the crisis.
The joint statement was adopted by leaders at the ASEAN-Canada summit in Jakarta on Wednesday.
In the outcome document of the 43rd ASEAN Summit released on Wednesday, the regional organization's leaders stressed their commitment to ensuring rapid action on food security and nutrition in response to the crisis.
ASEAN is also committed to strengthening preparedness for the resilience and long-term sustainability of agricultural systems in Southeast Asian countries.
“And the leaders hope that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between ASEAN and Canada can be concluded,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters in Jakarta.
At the summit, Retno said ASEAN and Canada had also formally formed the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership which would chart the direction of the future partnership by ratifying the Joint Leaders' Declaration on the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership.
Canada is one of ASEAN's dialogue partners. Canada and ASEAN have enjoyed cooperative relations since 1977.
Currently, ASEAN has established a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, India, Australia and the United States.
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