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<title>AXWORTHY TO VISIT SOUTH KOREA, THE PHILIPPINES, AND HONG KONG</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">July 17, 1998 No. 173</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY TO VISIT SOUTH KOREA, THE PHILIPPINES, AND
HONG KONG</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will visit the Republic of Korea from
July 23 to 26 to promote bilateral relations, en route to two meetings of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): the ASEAN Regional Forum Meeting
(ARF) and the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) in Manila from July 27 to
29. Mr. Axworthy will also make a brief visit to the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) from July 29 to 30.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">While in South Korea from July 23 to 26, Mr. Axworthy will visit the De-Militarized Zone marking the boundary with North Korea to review security
concerns on the Korean Peninsula, and see the landmines situation firsthand. He
will also meet with members of the new South Korean government, including
President Kim Dae-jung, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Park Chung-soo, and
Finance and Economy Minister Lee Kyu-sung. In addition to reviewing the political
and security situation on the Peninsula, Mr. Axworthy will discuss economic
reforms, international human rights, and the Ottawa Convention banning landmines.
His visit to the Republic of Korea is the first visit of a Canadian Foreign
Affairs Minister since 1994. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"This visit to South Korea provides a timely opportunity for Canada to further
develop multifaceted relationships with the new Korean government," said Mr.
Axworthy. "Canada welcomes the recent initiatives taken by President Kim's
administration both</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">to enact domestic economic and social reforms in response to the recent Asian
financial crisis, and to enhance dialogue with North Korea." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In Manila from July 27 to 29, Minister Axworthy will attend the annual ARF and
PMC meetings where he will meet and discuss international and regional political,
economic and security issues with 21 Foreign Ministers of the Asia-Pacific
region. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The ASEAN Regional Forum provides the informal structure necessary to build
confidence and lead Asia on the path to peace and stability," said Mr. Axworthy.
"Recent events such as India and Pakistan's repeated nuclear tests have
unacceptable consequences for the region as a whole. Canada, which plays a
significant role in Asia-Pacific security, must continue pushing the nuclear non-proliferation agenda in forums such as the ARF." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The ARF, established in 1993 as an informal multilateral dialogue on regional
security in Asia-Pacific, will be followed by the Post-Ministerial Conference
(PMC). While the ARF focusses solely on regional security issues, the PMC
provides an opportunity for the 10 Dialogue Partners of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the nine ASEAN members to discuss and
exchange views on broader international and regional political and economic
issues. Canada has been a dialogue partner of ASEAN since 1977, and Canadian
Foreign Affairs Ministers have participated in every ARF Ministerial meeting
since the first one in 1994.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">While in Hong Kong on July 30, Minister Axworthy will take part in bilateral
meetings with Tung Chee-hwa, Chief Executive Officer, and Martin Lee, Leader of
the Democratic Party. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Following this first anniversary of Chinese sovereignty, I will meet with Hong
Kong's leaders to support and strengthen the close relationship that Canadians
and the people of Hong Kong have always enjoyed," said Mr. Axworthy. "The
continuation of the Special Administrative Region's autonomy, openness and
democratic system is essential to the Region's future success and prosperity." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This is the first visit of the Foreign Affairs Minister to Hong Kong since his
attendance at the July 1, 1997, handover ceremonies.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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