NEWS RELEASES
CANADA AND MEXICO TO FURTHER ADVANCE BILATERAL RELATIONS
February 16, 1999 (3:30 p.m. EST) No. 29
CANADA AND MEXICO TO FURTHER
ADVANCE BILATERAL RELATIONS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi today announced that
Canada will host the 13th meeting of the Canada-Mexico Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) from February 17 to
19 in Ottawa.
"Canada and Mexico have been very successful in developing a dynamic relationship and co-operation in a
number of areas, including the elimination of landmines and combatting illegal trafficking in firearms," said Mr.
Axworthy. "We want to build on our success in these areas to address a wider agenda, including social and cultural
co-operation."
Ministers from both countries will focus on areas of global priority such as social development, environment,
indigenous co-operation and exchange, cultural expression, and human security issues such as landmines, small
arms proliferation, and the wider impact of the drug trade.
"We have rapidly growing trade and investment relations with Mexico as a result of the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA), with opportunities for current as well as new exporters, particularly small and medium-sized
enterprises," said Minister Marchi. "Canada wants to explore with Mexico, a key voice in the hemisphere,
co-operative efforts to further trade liberalization in the context of wider, shared values."
In the area of trade and investment co-operation, discussions will cover bilateral trade and investment issues;
telecommunications and information technology; transport; the fifth anniversary of the NAFTA; and ways to move
forward on hemispheric and multilateral trade objectives.
The Canada-Mexico Joint Ministerial Committee was established in 1968. Meetings are held regularly, and hosting
alternates between both countries. The ministerial-level forum enables regular, in-depth contact on a variety of
issues of common interest.
Mexico will be represented by Foreign Relations Minister Rosario Green; Commerce and Industrial Development
Minister Herminio Blanco; Communications and Transportation Minister Carlos Ruiz; Environment, Natural
Resources and Fisheries Minister Julia Carabias; Health Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente; and President of the
National Council on Culture and the Arts Rafael Tovar y de Teresa.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Leslie Swartman
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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