The United Nations has retracted a statement saying Canada will resume contributing funds to the U.N. relief agency that aids and protects Palestinian refugees.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said late Wednesday that the UN statement on the meeting of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcoming the restart of funding for UNRWA was an early draft sent by mistake "that did not properly reflect" their discussion.

Trudeau's visit to the UN comes as Canada is vowing more engagement in world affairs.

Canada stopped funding UNRWA under former prime minster Stephen Harper.

UNRWA marked its 65th anniversary last year. Ban said at the time that the agency was never meant to exist for 65 years but "exists because of political failure."