MANILA -- There is a huge opportunity for the Philippines and Canada to work together in various fields to continue deepening relations between the two countries, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday.

“I know there’s a tremendous opportunity to work together, and I’m looking forward to doing just that,” Trudeau said.

“We have some very strong Philippine Canadian members of parliament and members of my team who are very happy that we’re able to launch a new area in our friendship and our partnership and I’m very much looking forward to it,” Trudeau told President Marcos.

According to Trudeau, the Philippines and Canada can collaborate to strengthen economic cooperation, build a better future, stand up for women’s opportunities, protect human rights and fight climate change.

With deep people-to-people ties, both countries can work bilaterally to do more in the region, the Canadian leader said.

As a response, President Marcos said the integration of Filipinos in Canada serves as a strong foundation for Philippine-Canada relations.

“They all seem to have become part of the workforce, become part of society. They have found their place and they had been given that place by the Canadians, and for that, they are grateful, and we are grateful. And I think it is — it serves as a very good foundation for whatever else that we feel that we can do together,” Marcos said, referring to Filipinos living and working in Canada.

The President expressed elation over the meeting, which was arranged despite the very tight itineraries as they both attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits in Cambodia. (PND)