June 3, 1998 No. 142

KYRGYZ REPUBLIC FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CANADA

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy announced today that the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kyrgyz Republic, Muratbek Imanaliev, will make an official visit to Canada June 3 to 5 to discuss closer political and economic relations.

Mr. Imanaliev will meet with Mr. Axworthy and Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale, as well as with senior officials of EDC (Export Development Corporation) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

"The Kyrgyz Republic has made exceptional progress in democratic and economic reform since independence and promises to be an outstanding partner with Canada in international co-operation, trade and investment," Mr. Axworthy said.

Mr. Axworthy and Mr. Imanaliev will sign a bilateral agreement to prevent double taxation of Canadian and Kyrgyz citizens who work or do business in both countries.

The Kyrgyz Republic, which was part of the former Soviet Union, has been an independent nation since 1991 and has a population of 4.5 million. Canada is the largest foreign investor in the country, mainly in the mining sector.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca