Ottawa Marks ASEAN’s 59th Anniversary with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, marked its 59th anniversary in Ottawa earlier this week with a diplomatic reception hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and attended by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand as guest of honour, alongside ASEAN ambassadors, Canadian officials, parliamentarians, members of the diplomatic corps, business representatives and academics.

Anand’s attendance carried particular significance as Canada continues to deepen its political, economic and security engagement with Southeast Asia. The celebration came as Ottawa seeks to expand its partnership with the region, while official coverage of the event noted that her participation marked the first time a Canadian foreign minister had attended an ASEAN Day celebration in Ottawa.

The minister’s remarks addressed several priorities shaping Canada’s relationship with ASEAN, including expanded trade and open markets, maritime security, regional peace and stability, and stronger political and security cooperation, as well as the importance Canada places on ASEAN’s role in the Indo-Pacific.

Anand confirmed Canada’s commitment to working with ASEAN members toward concluding negotiations on the ASEAN–Canada Free Trade Agreement in 2026, a step expected to create broader opportunities for trade and investment while supporting Canada’s efforts to diversify its markets in one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions.

The growing economic weight of the relationship is reflected in trade figures. ASEAN collectively became Canada’s fifth-largest merchandise trading partner in 2025, with two-way merchandise trade reaching approximately C$52.4 billion, according to Canadian government data.

Her remarks also captured the momentum in Canada–ASEAN relations following ASEAN foreign ministers’ meetings in Manila in July, where the two sides adopted the 2026–2030 Plan of Action for the ASEAN–Canada Strategic Partnership, covering cooperation in trade and investment, regional security, cybersecurity and efforts to combat transnational crime.

In his remarks, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Canada and Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Ottawa, Muhsin Syihab, emphasized ASEAN’s role in promoting regional stability at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and rapid global change, placing particular importance on dialogue, cooperation and confidence-building among nations.

Ambassador Syihab stressed that ASEAN’s strength rests not only on the size of its economies or population, but also on its ability to manage differences and preserve channels of dialogue and cooperation, highlighting the importance of what he described as a “balance of trust” alongside traditional concepts of the balance of power.

The reception brought together Canadian government representatives, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Canada, including Qatar’s Ambassador to Canada Tariq Ali Faraj Al-Ansari, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador Amal bint Yahya Al-Moallimi, and Morocco’s Ambassador Souriya Otmani, as well as representatives of the Egyptian and Palestinian diplomatic missions and other political, diplomatic, economic and academic figures.

The program also featured cultural performances from Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar, showcasing Southeast Asia’s cultural diversity and highlighting the people-to-people dimension of ASEAN’s relationship with Canada alongside its growing political and economic ties.

The 59th anniversary celebration comes ahead of another important milestone, as Canada and ASEAN prepare to mark 50 years of dialogue relations in 2027, at a time when the partnership is expanding across political, economic and security fields.