NEWS RELEASES

April 22, 1997 No. 77

CANADA AND BRAZIL STRENGTHEN CO-OPERATION ON PEACEKEEPING, TRADE

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and International Trade Minister Art Eggleton announced today that Canada and Brazil will work to strengthen co-operation on peacekeeping and expand their trade relations.

The announcement comes during a state visit to Canada by Brazilian President Fernando Enrique Cardoso. The President is visiting Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, accompanied by a 90-member business delegation.

"Canada and Brazil share many ideas and approaches on regional issues, such as peacekeeping, UN Reform and democracy," said Mr. Axworthy. "The agreements we have reached will encourage the continuation of positive reform throughout South America."

"The time is right to expand and increase our trade relations with South America," said Mr. Eggleton. "South America is a vast, dynamic market that holds enormous opportunities for Canadian companies. Closer links with Brazil and other Mercosur members will help create jobs in Canada."

The agreements include:

An agreement to begin negotiations on a Foreign Investment Protection Agreement in 1997;

An exchange of notes that ratifies a nuclear co-operation agreement signed in 1996;

An agreement for Brazil to enter Canada's Military Training Assistance Program, including training for Brazilian peacekeepers;

A letter of intent to encourage closer co-operation on policing;

An exchange of notes ratifying changes to a technical co-operation agreement, signed by the Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for la Francophonie, Don Boudria;

An agreement on communications, signed by Industry Minister John Manley, to encourage both nations to share approaches on the transition to an information society.

In a major private sector deal, ALCAN Aluminum Ltd. announced its intention to invest approximately $500 million in Brazil over the next three years to expand and modernize its aluminum rolling operations.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Catherine Lappe

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Nicole Bourget

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister for International Trade

(613) 992-7332

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca