NEWS RELEASES
BANGLADESHI FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CANADA
October 29, 1999 (3:45 p.m. EDT) No. 235
BANGLADESHI FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CANADA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)
Raymond Chan today announced that the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Abdus
Samad Azad, will visit Canada from November 1 to 4.
"This is a timely visit because it comes just as Bangladesh prepares to join us on the
UN Security Council (UNSC) in January 2000," said Mr. Axworthy. "Our meetings
with Foreign Minister Azad will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss bilateral
relations, the human security issues that we will address at the UNSC, as well as
developments in South Asia."
"I led a trade mission to Bangladesh last May and was greatly impressed by the
strength of the Bangladeshi business sector," said Mr. Chan. "Bangladesh is already
one of our fastest growing markets in Asia and we are committed to enhancing our
trade relations with this dynamic economy." Mr. Chan noted that Foreign Minister
Azad's visit follows those of several senior Bangladeshi officials, including the
Parliamentary Speaker and the Secretary of Energy, over the course of this year.
Mr. Azad's visit will begin in Ottawa, where he will meet with Minister Axworthy and
Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Chan; Minister for International Co-operation Maria
Minna; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Peter Milliken; and the
Leader of the Official Opposition, Preston Manning.
On November 3 Minister Azad will travel to Toronto where he is scheduled to meet
with business representatives and members of the Bangladeshi Canadian
community. The following day, Mr. Azad has a private program in southern Ontario
before departing from Canada.
This is the first bilateral visit to Canada by a Bangladeshi Foreign Minister.
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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-Pacfic)
(613) 995-1852
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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