President Benigno S. Aquino III met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 27th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in furtherance of their countries’ bilateral ties.
Keeping reporters apprised of the meeting, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the Philippines thanked Canada for making it one of the 25 ‘countries of focus’ that will receive 90 percent of its bilateral official development assistance.
The Philippines and 24 other developing and underdeveloped countries in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Middle East were chosen based on their needs, capacity to benefit from aid, and alignment with Canadian foreign policy priorities.
President Aquino cited the strong relations between the Philippines and Canada, as evidenced by the dynamism of the Filipino-Canadian community, Secretary Coloma said, adding that Prime Minister Trudeau saw great potential for growth in the two countries’ bilateral trade.
Canada also expressed its support for the Philippines’ possible accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries initiated by the United States, Coloma said.
Prime Minister Trudeau is attending his first APEC Leaders’ Summit this year, just two weeks after winning Canada’s leadership. He is however no stranger in meeting President Aquino as they briefly spoke with each other during the latter’s trip to Toronto last May.
President Aquino made a state visit to Canada six months ago at the invitation of former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The 43-year old Trudeau was then a member of the Canadian Parliament for Papineau in the House of Commons. PND (hdc)
