Modification: addition of dates
March 8, 2013 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today announced that he will travel to Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong from March 10 to 13, 2013, to strengthen bilateral relations, project Canadian values and diversify Canada’s trade relations in the Asia-Pacific region.
“Asia is full of new opportunities to expand Canada’s economic prosperity,” said Baird in a speech delivered before the Alberta Enterprise Group. “We know that Canada must take an active role in this part of the world. It’s simply not a choice; it’s not an option; it’s a national imperative.”
During his three-day visit, Baird will meet with government officials, as well as with representatives of Canadian and Asian businesses, to build greater opportunities for jobs, growth and economic prosperity for all Canadians.
“Canada’s trade with Asia has more than doubled in a generation, and Asian investment into Canada has grown by over 400 percent in the last two decades,” said Baird. “We are committed to creating jobs and growth, in keeping with our government’s principled foreign policy and the four priorities outlined recently by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.”
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Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
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