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Prime Minister of the Czech Republic to visit Canada
February 10, 1997
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that Vaclav
Klaus, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic will visit Canada
from February 20 to 23. Prime Minister Klaus will be accompanied
by a significant delegation of businesspeople.
"It is fitting that Prime Minister Klaus, who was a key architect
of the Czech political and economic transformation, will be the
first Czech Prime Minister to visit Canada since the Republic
became a democracy," said Prime Minister Chrétien.
"Our warm and dynamic relations with the Czech Republic hold
tremendous potential for growth. I am pleased the Prime Minister
will bring a strong delegation of business people to explore,
in particular, how we might expand our trade and investment links."
In 1996, bilateral trade reached some $160 million, up from $138
million the previous year. Canadians have invested approximately
$150 million in the Czech Republic. Canada has supported the Czech
economic transition through bilateral and multilateral assistance
programs. Czech and Canadian forces have served together in Bosnia
in a NATO-led mission under Canadian command.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Klaus will meet with Governor General
Roméo LeBlanc, Prime Minister Chrétien, and Minister
of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy. In Toronto, Mr. Klaus will
be the guest of Minister for International Trade Art Eggleton
at a luncheon, at which he will address an audience of Canadian
business people. Prime Minister Klaus will then travel to Banff,
Alberta to participate in a panel discussion at the Banff Centre
with senior representatives of the Canadian business community.
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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
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