14 June 2013
Paris, France
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered the following remarks while in Paris:
“Mr. President, allow me again to begin by thanking you for your warm welcome and the gracious hospitality you have shown me and the entire Canadian delegation.
“I have fond memories of meeting with you at Camp David last May, in Paris last June and at the Francophonie Summit in October.
“And in March, it was our pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Ayrault to Ottawa
on his first official visit in that capacity to Canada.
“The friendship between Canada and France is deep, it is historic, it is founded on shared values and a shared language.
“Both our countries believe in freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
“We are also strong trading partners.
“Annual trade between us is worth more than eight billion dollars.
“But there is still room to grow and expand this trading relationship.
“A joint economic study has shown that a comprehensive Canada-EU trade deal would increase two-way trade by 20 percent.
“Together, we have also worked to improve international security, especially recently in Libya and Mali.
“Now once again, Mr. President, on Mali you showed tremendous leadership at a time when no one else in the world was stepping up.
“It would be hard to overstate the importance of the French actions in that country, in Mali.
“Canada was, of course, a willing contributor to that effort.
“We are also, of course, partners in the G-8, the NATO and in the Francophonie.
“And today, I am pleased to announce that an Enhanced Cooperation Agenda
between France and Canada, will see our countries work even more closely in areas of mutual concern.
“Mr. President, this new initiative builds on a relationship that is already a model for the world.
“As Prime Minister, and on behalf of all Canadians, I want to thank the people of France, for being such reliable partners and good friends for so long.
“This is something that we will celebrate particularly next year with the anniversaries that we will mark as well as your much anticipated visit to Canada.
“Thank you.”
