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<title>CANADIAN AND MEXICAN MINISTERSADVANCE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">December 17, 1996 No. 250</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADIAN AND MEXICAN MINISTERS</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">ADVANCE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that three Canadian
ministers will meet their Mexican counterparts in Mexico City on December 19 and
20 for the 12th meeting of the Canada-Mexico Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC).</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The JMC meetings began in 1971 and have been held annually since 1990, alternating
between the two countries. The forum allows ministers to have regular, in-depth
contact on a variety of issues of common interest.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada will be represented by Mr. Axworthy, International Trade Minister Art
Eggleton and Transport Minister David Anderson. Mexico will be represented by:
José Angel Gurría Treviño, Minister of Foreign Relations; Herminio Blanco Mendoza,
Minister of Commerce and Industrial Relations; and Carlos Ruíz Sacristán,
Minister of Communications and Transportation.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Mexico is Canada's closest partner in Latin America. Our nations co-operate on a
wide range of issues and in various forums, such as the United Nations, the
Organization of American States and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum,"
said Mr. Axworthy. "Our discussions will focus on reviewing progress made under
the Canada-Mexico Declaration of Objectives and endorsing an updated action plan."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada and Mexico are strong economic partners in the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) and are advancing liberalized trade in this hemisphere and
beyond," said Mr. Eggleton. "Our joint work through the NAFTA, the World Trade
Organization and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is
creating jobs and boosting exports in both nations."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Stronger transportation links will pave the way to broader economic and social
contact between our nations," said Mr. Anderson. "We are co-operating on a full
range of transportation issues, including technical standards, the transportation
of hazardous goods and the efficient delivery of services."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">At this year's JMC, ministers will discuss: Co-operation on electoral reform,
human rights and disarmament issues; the upcoming NAFTA Commission meeting, plans
for the spring ministerial meeting on the Free Trade Area of the Americas; and
preparation for the first meeting of the Canada-Mexico Transportation Working
group in early 1997.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Two agreements will be signed during the meeting: a memorandum of understanding on
combatting narco-trafficking will be amended and renewed; and the 1961 Air
Transport Agreement will be amended to include an air safety clause.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Minister Eggleton will also be announcing the opening of the Canada Education
Centre at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City. The centre will provide a wide
range of information to Mexican youth on Canadian educational institutions and
encourage them to select Canada as their destination of choice. In 1994-95,
almost 85 000 international students attended Canadian universities, colleges and
other institutions.</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">Catherine Lappe</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">Nicole Bourget</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Brian Bohunicky</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Transportation</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 991-0700</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 of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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