NEWS RELEASES
September 27, 2004 (4:00 p.m. EDT) No. 113
SOUTH KOREAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
VISITS CANADA
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that the South Korean
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ban Ki-moon, is visiting Montreal and Toronto
from September 26 to 28, 2004. This is the first visit to Canada by a South Korean
foreign minister in more than ten years.
“Canada and South Korea enjoy a long-standing relationship that covers a variety of
issues, from regional security and trade to educational exchanges,” said Minister
Pettigrew. “Minister Ban’s visit provides an excellent opportunity to exchange views with
a close friend and ally on matters of common concern, such as nuclear non-proliferation
and trade liberalization. Canada strongly supports South Korea’s continued attempts to
engage its northern neighbour in the Six-Party Talks.”
While in Canada, Minister Ban will meet with Minister Pettigrew, officials of the
International Civil Aviation Organization, Quebec Deputy Premier Monique
Gagnon-Tremblay and members of the Korean communities in Montreal and Toronto.
Canada and South Korea continue to expand their trade in goods, services and
knowledge. South Korea is Canada’s eighth-largest trading partner overall and
third-largest in Asia. Canada also hosts over 50,000 students from South Korea every
year. More than 100,000 Canadians are of Korean descent.
Last year, Canada and South Korea marked their 40th anniversary of diplomatic
relations with celebrations in both countries. For more information on our relationship,
visit http://www.korea.gc.ca/political/bilateral.relation.e.html.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
|
