CANADA – BRAZIL - A Strong and Productive Partnership- by Peter Harder*
As Canada's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, it gives me great pleasure to visit Brazil this week,
with a view to advancing the already favourable dialogue between our two countries.
My visit builds on that of the Canadian Prime Minister's visit to Brazil last November, at which time
the Prime Minister and President Lula signed a joint declaration reaffirming the partnership between
Canada and Brazil in promoting a more just, secure and prosperous democratic world.
Our leaders agreed to pursue enhanced relations on prosperity and sustainable growth, global
security and multilateral cooperation as well as climate change, high-level political consultations
and people-to-people ties. It is in this context that during my visit to Brasilia and Sao Paulo this
week, I will be meeting with senior Brazilian officials as well as Canadian and Brazilian business
people, and conducting consultations on a variety of issues of interest to both our countries .
Canada is a country strongly committed to international issues and we are proud of the
contributions we have made over the years on the world stage - in countries as diverse as
Afghanistan and Haiti, on issues ranging from HIV/AIDS to debt reduction, and in a variety of
international fora, including the Organization of American States.
However, from time to time every government needs to re-assess and re-define its foreign policy in
light of evolving geo-political circumstances, and this is what the Canadian government has just
done with its new International Policy Statement - "A Role of Pride and Influence in the World", which I will also be presenting during my visit. It
is significant that Brazil occupies an important place in this document, highlighted as a major
regional and global player with which Canada shares many values and beliefs and would benefit
from developing even closer ties.
Of course, Canada has enjoyed a deep and enduring relationship with Brazil for over a hundred
years. Now, however, we are seeking to take this relationship to a new level. We are very much
looking forward to developing new avenues of cooperation in terms of building new multilateral
approaches to global security challenges, enhancing international trade and investment while
promoting corporate social responsibility, and fostering greater links in areas such as science and
technology, culture, and education.
I firmly believe in the potential for a strong and productive partnership between our two countries.
Together, we caat strides in meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century.
* Peter Harder is the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Personal Representative of the
Prime Minister to the G8. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of
Waterloo and a Master of Arts from Queen's University. He is conducting an official visit to Brazil
and will have meetings in Brasilia and Sao Paulo.
Related Links:
Joint declaration-on the occasion of the visit of Prime Minister Paul Martin to Brazil - (November 22-23, 2004)
Address by Prime Minister Paul Martin to the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce - (November 22, 2004)
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