January 21, 2005 (1:30 a.m. EST)

No. 13

STATEMENT BY MINISTER PETTIGREW ON THE DEATH OF ZHAO ZIYANG

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew has made the following statement on the death of Zhao Ziyang:

"On behalf of the people of Canada, I would like to extend condolences to the family of Zhao Ziyang, who died earlier this week. Zhao Ziyang, who was the first senior Chinese leader to visit Canada, was well known to Canadians as a pioneer of reform. Our thoughts are with his family as they mourn their loss."

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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

(613) 995-1874

http://www.international.gc.ca