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NEWS RELEASES

September 10, 1999 (5:00 p.m. EDT) No. 202

AXWORTHY AND CHINESE COUNTERPART ADDRESS

PEOPLE SMUGGLING ISSUE

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today expressed satisfaction with a discussion held with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, on the issue of people smuggling. The ministers met on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in Auckland, New Zealand.

"Minister Tang and I had a useful dialogue," said Mr. Axworthy. "We agreed that the most appropriate mechanism to deal with people smuggling is the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in Combatting Crime that was signed during Premier Zhu Rongji's visit to Canada last April. Among other provisions, the MOU provides for co-operation between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security on the issue of smuggling. This will facilitate the access of Canadian law enforcement officials to their colleagues in Fujian province, the main source of recent asylum seekers on the west coast."

"We must use every tool at our disposal to stem this exploitation and to ensure appropriate punishment for those who engage in it," said Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan, who is also attending the APEC Ministerial Meeting. "Only by sharing our knowledge and expertise with the Chinese government can we combat the criminal elements responsible for this activity."

Minister Axworthy noted that he had asked Bill Graham, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to follow up on the people smuggling issue with senior Chinese officials. Mr. Graham is heading a parliamentary delegation which includes Members of Parliament Sophia Leung (Vancouver-Kingsway) and Dr. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul's) that will visit China on an exchange with the Foreign Affairs Committee of China's National People's Congress. The delegation will be in China from September 13 to 23 and is expected to explore a wide range of political and trade issues.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Naseem Nuraney

Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)

(613) 995-1852

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874