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Canada is reviewing its strategy in Asia, which has so far been heavily focused on China, in order to now station in around forty countries in the Indo-Pacific region. This new policy will be accompanied by investments of approximately US$1.5 billion over five years. It includes a commercial as well as a military and ecological strategy. This was announced by the government in Vancouver on the Pacific coast, where a third of the population comes from Asia.
With our correspondent in Montreal, Pascale Guericolas
In Canada, one in six jobs depends on exports, which is why this country looks to forge more trade ties with India, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia in the coming years by encouraging companies to spread their wings there. Natural resources, agriculture and technological innovation are among the targeted sectors.
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The government also plans to invest tens of millions of euros to help certain countries threatened by rising waters protect themselves, as Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister for International Trade, who was born in Hong Kong herself, explains: ” The need for infrastructure, especially green infrastructure, is immense. This will enable a more climate-resilient infrastructure. For example, in the Philippines, one of the countries in the region, they want to provide more aid by also providing cheap loans. »
China, a partner that doesn’t respect the rules
Canada has long focused on China and now believes that this partner is not playing by the rules of the game. For this reason, a third Canadian frigate will soon cruise the Indian Ocean and the army will increase its presence there the region. ” We now have a clear framework for when we need to negotiate with the Chinese government, explains Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly. We will do it diplomatically, because diplomacy is our forte. However, we will remain firm. The minister will also discuss the Chinese dossier at her meeting with her NATO colleagues in a few days.
This strategy was presented by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mrs. Joly after a tour of the region, where they attended several summits: that of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Phnom Penhin Cambodia, the of G20 in Baliin Indonesia, and those of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (Apec), in Bangkok.
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