Ottawa – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will visit the Republic of Korea (Korea) from April 13 to 15, 2023, to strengthen bilateral relations, and to Japan, from April 16 to 18, to participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
In Seoul, Korea, Minister Joly, building on her recent visit in October 2022 and the launch of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, will underscore the importance of deepening collaboration and rich historical ties between Canada and Korea, as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries. The Minister will work with her counterpart, Foreign Minister Park Jin, to achieve further progress on the implementation of the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, announced by Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2022.
Minister Joly will also engage in discussions with Indo-Pacific experts to identify areas of common interest between both countries’ Indo-Pacific strategies. She will exchange views with stakeholders on the situation in North Korea and explore options for Canada’s role in supporting efforts towards a denuclearized, peaceful, and prosperous Korean peninsula.
Minister Joly is also proud to announce the appointment of Tamara Mawhinney as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, who will support her throughout the visit.
In Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, Minister Joly and her G7 counterparts will discuss pressing foreign policy challenges, and reaffirm their shared commitment to promoting and defending the international order based on the rule of law. The Ministers will collaborate on responses to Russia’s war against Ukraine, including how to help address global impacts of the war.
Throughout her G7 meetings, Minister Joly will have the opportunity to highlight Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, emphasize engagement with international partners, and underscore Canada’s priorities in other regions of the world, including the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.
“As a Pacific country, Canada can count on long-standing relationships with Japan and Korea, two of our closest friends in the Indo-Pacific. I look forward to returning to these two countries. In Korea, we will continue to deepen our relationships to ensure Canadians can benefit from the enormous potential in the region. In Japan, I will engage with G7 partners on the most pressing foreign policy challenges we face, including our ongoing response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs