Foreign Affairs Minister to visit Germany, Ukraine and France to strengthen bilateral relations

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

August 24, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will visit Germany, Ukraine and France from August 26 to 30, 2018. The visit will be an opportunity to strengthen Canada’s bilateral relationships and to address top diplomats at the annual heads of mission conferences in Berlin, Kyiv and Paris.

On August 26 and 27, Minister Freeland will be in Germany, where she will meet with Heiko Maas, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, to discuss how Canada and Germany can work together as allies to promote prosperity and defend the international rules-based order.

On August 28, the Minister will travel to Ukraine, where she will meet with President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin. Canada continues to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine as well as its important democratic, economic and social reforms.

On August 29 and 30, the Minister will visit France, where she will meet with Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Minister Freeland and her French counterpart, an important international ally, will discuss issues such as the environment, trade, security and gender equality.

Quotes

“I look forward to meeting with my counterparts from Germany, Ukraine and France and to addressing the ambassadors in Berlin, Kyiv and Paris. All of these countries share a special relationship to Canada, and it is through these types of relationships that Canada and its partners can help to promote and protect the international rules-based order and ensure peace and prosperity for all.”

- Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

  • Germany and Canada share strong cultural connections, with about a million Canadians and Germans travelling to the other country each year.

  • Germany is Canada’s largest export market in the EU and sixth-largest trading partner globally.

  • The Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement entered into force in August 2017, creating opportunities for economic growth and further strengthening ties between both countries.

  • Since 2014, Canada has provided more than $27 million in humanitarian assistance funding to Ukraine.

  • Canada and France have a close relationship based on a common history and language, shared values, deep people-to-people ties and diversified cooperation on economic, social, political and security issues.

  • France is Canada’s fourth-largest trading partner in Europe and ninth-largest partner globally. In 2017, Canadian exports to France amounted to $3.4 billion, while French exports to Canada were $6.2 billion.

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Contacts

Adam Austen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Adam.Austen@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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