A key focus of Canada’s new strategic partnership with Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN revolves around promoting security in the region as countries cope with an assertive China. Themes of cooperation in the new partnership were presented on Sept. 6 at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Indonesia, which was attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. ASEAN and Canada have strategies that “share relevant fundamental principles in promoting an open, inclusive, transparent and rules-based regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific region, in which ASEAN is central,” says a joint statement issued by participating leaders. The first strategic area of mutual interest identified for cooperation, before trade and investments, is dubbed the “political-security community.”...Read more https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/canada-asean-strategic-partnership-to-focus-on-regional-security-5487202