Canada and South Korea to strengthen trade, cultural ties during Trudeau visit – National | 24CA News
Canada and South Korea are set to signal two agreements to strengthen commerce and cultural ties throughout Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s two-day go to to South Korea this week.
In an interview with Global News, South Korea’s Ambassador to Canada Lim Woongsoon mentioned Trudeau and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will signal a memorandum of understanding to broaden the commerce of vital minerals and make it simpler for youth from each nations to take part in exchanges.
“We are like minded countries. We share the same values like freedom, human rights and democracy,” mentioned Lim. “There is no geopolitical risk in fostering our partnership.”
South Korea is popping to Canada for vital minerals in a bid to cut back their reliance on China, who provides 80 per cent of their inventory. The ambassador believes partnering with Canada will assist develop Korea’s semiconductor and electrical automobile battery sector, which is the world’s second largest producer.
“Canada can be a very good choice for Korean companies to diversify their supply of critical minerals,” mentioned Lim.
Outside of commerce, South Korea will broaden entry to work vacation applications and create new classes to permit younger Canadians to intern and work in Korea. Lim says in flip, Canada will likely be “ready to accommodate more Korean applicants” to Canadian applications.
Canada’s push to extend ties with South Korea is part of the Liberal authorities’s Indo-Pacific technique, which was launched final fall.
The technique goals to advance ties within the area and guarantees practically $2.3 billion in new spending over 5 years, together with for commerce and navy initiatives meant to counterbalance a rising China.
South Korea’s personal Indo-Pacific technique additionally requires strengthening ties with Canada and different companions within the area.
The prime minister is predicted to be in Seoul between May 16 and May 18, after Yoon’s go to to Ottawa in September.
While in Seoul, Trudeau is predicted to attend a ceremony to open the Kapyong Battle Commemorative Trail, meant to honour Canada’s contributions through the Korean War.
He shouldn’t be anticipated to go to the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea.
Trudeau is then scheduled to attend the G7 leaders’ summit in Hiroshima, Japan, between May 19 and 21.
The journey comes as Canada makes an attempt to strengthen its relationships with Japan and South Korea, that are longtime allies and buying and selling companions.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has mentioned the connection with every is so pure that Ottawa has at occasions taken it with no consideration, however that world instability is a time to shore up these bonds.
“We want to be as close to Korea, to Japan as (we are) to Germany, France and Great Britain; that’s our goal,” Joly mentioned final December.
—With information from the Canadian Press
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
