Official Launch of the ASEAN-Canada Research Partnership

Date: 20 January 2012 (Friday)
Venue: ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta
Organised by: ASEAN Secretariat and Embassy of Canada in Indonesia

The ASEAN-Canada Research Partnership was launched on 20 January 2012 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. The launch was conducted during a ceremony marking the 35th Year Anniversary of the ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Partnership.

The launch took place following the unveiling of the anniversary logo and remarks delivered by distinguished guests: ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Dr Surin Pitsuwan; Ambassador of Canada to ASEAN, H.E. Mr. Mackenzie Clugston; and Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN, H.E. Mr. Manasvi Srisodapol.

In their remarks, H.E. Dr Surin Pitsuwan and H.E. Mr. Mackenzie Clugston highlighted milestones in ASEAN and Canada’s official partnership. From issues of political and security cooperation to trade and economics, ASEAN-Canadian relations have grown to include socio-cultural themes such as health, disaster management and climate change. These emerging fields of cooperation reflect the importance that non-traditional security issues have within ASEAN and in its discussions with its dialogue partners. 

Cooperation in these emerging fields at the official Track 1 level also give the impetus to enhance efforts at the Track 2 and Track 3 levels, thereby contributing to strengthening a people-to-people community in ASEAN. The ASEAN-Canada Research Partnership therefore fills this space by seeking to build stronger research capacity and partnership between and among Canada and ASEAN countries, institutions and individuals.    

In her remarks to launch the ASEAN-Canada Research Partnership, Dr Rosalia Sciortino, Regional Director of Southeast East and East Asia, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), highlighted the objectives and main activities of the Research Partnership over the next three years. Dr Sciortino also thanked the RSIS Centre for NTS Studies, Nanyang Technological University, and the Institute for Asian Research (IAR), University of British Columbia – the two main institutes involved in the project – for their efforts and commitment to this initiative.

Click here for the ASEAN Secretariat’s press release of the event.

Click here to read more about the ASEAN-Canada Research Partnership.