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<title>VIETNAMESE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO VISIT CANADA</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">October 2, 1998 No. 228</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">VIETNAMESE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO VISIT CANADA</font><font face="Courier"></font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Nguyen Manh Cam,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, will visit
Ottawa and Toronto from October 4 to October 6. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In Ottawa, Mr. Cam will meet with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Deputy Prime
Minister Herb Gray, Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, Minister for
International Co-operation and Minister responsible for La Francophonie Diane
Marleau, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief, and Secretary of State
(Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan. In Toronto, Mr. Cam will meet with various members of
the business community.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">On October 5, Mr. Axworthy and Mr. Cam will discuss economic </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">co-operation, human rights and consular issues. They will also examine the impact
of the Asian financial crisis on Vietnam and other countries in the region.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Vietnam is an important emerging economy in Southeast Asia and plays an
influential role in efforts to promote peace and security in the region," said Mr.
Axworthy. "Canada values its ties with Vietnam, which have increased significantly
since diplomatic relations were established 25 years ago."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Cam's visit to Canada follows several visits to Vietnam by senior Canadian
officials. Prime Minister Chrétien visited Vietnam first in 1994 with Team Canada,
and in 1997 for the Francophonie Summit. Four visits to Vietnam were also made by
Canadian Ministers between 1995 and 1997, including two by Raymond Chan.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"We are looking forward to expanding bilateral trade and economic links with
Vietnam," said Mr. Chan. This visit will be an opportunity to reaffirm our support
and encouragement for Vietnam's reintegration into regional and global
communities."</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -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">Hilary Humphrey</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1852</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>
<p><font face="Courier"><em>(2:30 p.m. EDT)</em></font></p>
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