Indonesia and Canada Explore New Cooperation to Strengthen Bilateral Relations

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Canada are exploring new cooperation opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations, and the implementation of these various partnerships will be the focus of the next Bilateral Consultation Forum meeting between the two countries.

“We are committed to ensuring that the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Canada not only grows quantitatively, but is also results-oriented, delivering a direct impact on the prosperity of the peoples of both countries,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

The agreement to explore new cooperation opportunities was conveyed during a bilateral meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, held on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Post-Ministerial Conferences and Related Meetings (AMM-PMC) in Manila, the Philippines, on Thursday.

According to the statement, the upcoming Bilateral Consultation Forum will serve as a vehicle for identifying various mutually beneficial cooperation opportunities for both countries.

Both parties also stressed the importance of promptly finalising the 2026-2029 Plan of Action as a guide for implementing more focused, productive and strategic bilateral cooperation.

In the economic sphere, Indonesia and Canada agreed to continue promoting increased trade and investment, in connection with the forthcoming entry into force of the Indonesia–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA).

The meeting will serve as good momentum to deepen the Indonesia–Canada partnership, as well as part of the preparations for celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Canada in 2027.