"Canada's interest in this region, particularly in the five ASEAN countries, is not new. This longstanding interest has over recent years taken tangible forms, particularly with the setting up of the ASEAN-Canada Forest Tree Seed Centre as well as the Fisheries Post Harvest Technology Centre. I am convinced that, given the necessary political will, Canada-ASEAN relations can become the model of cooperation between a developed country and a group of developing countries, based on partnership on equal terms and common interest."