December 17, 1996 No. 250

CANADIAN AND MEXICAN MINISTERS

ADVANCE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP

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).

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.

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.

"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."

"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."

"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."

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.

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.

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.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Catherine Lappe

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Nicole Bourget

Office of the Minister for International Trade

(613) 992-7332

Brian Bohunicky

Office of the Minister of Transportation

(613) 991-0700

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca