Tokyo, Japan – The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, made the following statement as he concluded a trade and cooperation mission in China and Japan today.
“After a busy week of meetings with industry partners and government officials in China and Japan, I believe we have advanced Canada's interests on many levels.
“We know that Canada is a world leader in the production of high quality, safe and sustainable products. I am proud of the more than 50 Canadian exhibitors at the China Fisheries and Seafood Show, and I am confident that their participation will result in fruitful and prosperous trade outcomes in the future. My roundtable meetings between Canadian and Chinese and Japanese industry representatives this week also fostered good discussion on the excellent quality of Canada's fish, seal and seafood products.
“Building on a strong foundation of partnership that has been developed by my colleagues in our government, we moved forward in the development of a new memorandum of understanding on fisheries cooperation with China. I also met with my counterpart at the State Oceanic Administration and we are both pleased with the cooperation so far. We are looking forward to the first meeting of Canadian and Chinese officials in December to look at areas of scientific cooperation.”
“My meetings with Japanese counterparts over the last few days, in Yokohama and Tokyo, were equally positive and collaborative. Japan and Canada are like-minded in taking a conservation-oriented approach to fisheries management. We discussed the allocation of tuna and swordfish in the North Atlantic and I expressed the importance of safeguarding Canada's access to these fisheries.
“Canada and Japan will also continue to work together to enforce the law and crack down on illegal fishing in the North Pacific. In recent years we have seen significant decline in illegal fishing as a result of strong international partnerships and our government is committed to working with our allies on ongoing surveillance and enforcement activities.
Canada's trade and government partnerships with China and Japan are important and I am committed to continue advancing these already strong and growing relationships.”
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For More Information:
Frank Stanek
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-990-7537
Barbara Mottram
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
