Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is heading to the Far East today on a seven-day trip that will take him to the capital of South Korea, Seoul, and then to Hiroshima in Japan to attend the Group of Seven summit.

This trip comes at a time when Ukraine is entering a decisive phase in its efforts in the war against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with the Group of Seven leaders on Friday and present them with his peace plan.

Trudeau’s trip also comes as price inflation and the rising cost of living continue to destabilize economies, especially in the Southern Hemisphere, and foreign intervention and Chinese influence pose an increasing concern on the international stage.

South Korea wants to reduce its dependence on China in the energy sector and is seeking new supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Canada is very interested in taking advantage of this business opportunity.

Canada is preparing to complete a major project enabling the export of liquefied natural gas from the Kitimat port in British Columbia starting in 2025, according to expectations. Japanese and South Korean companies own 20% of this project.

"Canada’s future will largely depend on the Indo-Pacific region," said Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly during a visit to Seoul last autumn.

The Canadian Prime Minister’s visit to Seoul coincides with the South Korean capital hosting a major energy forum in which Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development François-Philippe Champagne, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, and Canadian businesspeople will participate.

Additionally, Canada is looking for trading partners in the electric vehicles sector and their batteries. South Korea hosts many companies in this field, such as "Samsung," "LG," "Kia," and "Hyundai."

South Korean electronics companies seek to obtain Canadian critical minerals, such as lithium and cobalt, which are considered essential for manufacturing batteries and microprocessors.

Automobile manufacturers are looking to Canadian raw materials, but more than anything, they want access to the North American market, especially the U.S. market. President Joe Biden’s administration offers large discounts to its citizens who buy electric cars made in North America.

Asian car makers view Canada as a gateway to this lucrative market. Canada, which has a free trade agreement with the United States, hopes to capitalize on this by attracting investments capable of creating jobs.