Dhaka: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invited his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina along with several other heads of the government and international organisations to take part in an outreach session of the G7 Summit to be held on June 9. The outreach session will focus on healthy oceans and resilient coastal communities, said a Canadian high commission press release forwarded yesterday.
While attending the outreach session, the prime minister will highlight the Rohingya crisis, according to diplomatic sources, adding that G7 members are sympathetic about the Rohingyas. She is likely to leave for Canada on June 7, they said. “Healthy oceans, seas and coasts are essential to our way of life. They are vast sources of food and energy, and form the economic bedrock of countless communities and entire countries. They drive growth, create jobs and sustain people’s livelihoods around the world,” said the release.
These leaders and heads of international organisations will meet with G7 leaders to discuss how to build resilient coasts and communities, share ocean knowledge and science, and support sustainable oceans and fisheries, it said, adding that they will also explore how to best address pressing challenges, including plastics in our oceans and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Canada is committed to working with others in the G7 and beyond to strengthen resilience, fight climate change, and protect our oceans for generations to come. As with all work under Canada’s G7 presidency, these discussions will include a focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“Our oceans and coasts are under considerable threat – from increases in plastic pollution, more frequent and severe weather events, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,” said the Canadian prime minister. “Resilient coastal communities and healthy oceans are vital to growing economies that work for everyone and that is why we are committed to working with others to protect the world’s oceans,” he said.
