By Canadian Press

Korea seeks to deepen trade ties as feds appoint panel on Indo-Pacific strategy

Jun 9, 2022 | 11:08 AM

OTTAWA — Keung Ryong Chang, ambassador of South Korea, says he hopes Canada’s forthcoming Indo-Pacific strategy will deepen the two countries’ already strong trade and economic ties.

The ambassador says Korea, a leading producer of hybrid and electric cars, is strengthening investment in Canada, including in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles.

He also says, with the global popularity of K-pop and Korean films such as “Parasite,” there is room for greater cultural co-operation with Canada, including as a shooting location for Korean pop videos and films.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly today appointed a panel of advisers to help frame the government’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which aims to diversify Canada’s trade relationships in the region and reduce its reliance on China.

The panel, co-chaired by political scientist Janice Gross Stein and former Liberal foreign affairs minister Pierre Pettigrew, will focus on issues including trade and increased security in the region. 

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The appointments come days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned as “provocative” the buzzing by China of a Canadian plane involved in enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2022.

Marie Woolf, The Canadian Press