Jean Chrétien Addresses the Chile-Canada Chamber of Commerce

Excelentissimo Presidente de la Republica, Don Eduardo Frei, Autoridades civiles y militares, Estimado Presidente del Consejo de Comercio Chile-Canada, Don Jorge Carey, señoras y señores, amigos todos:

We live in turbulent times. Events we could not even imagine ten years ago are now a part of history. Communism has collapsed, the Berlin Wall has fallen, the Soviet Union has broken apart.

Many see these changes as a mixed blessing. We are certainly more secure from East-West military conflict. But we have also seen the rise of new tensions, particularly in Europe where destructive forces held down by communism have risen again.

The world needs some "good news" stories to remind us that it is possible to make great progress in the struggle for freedom.

To those looking for good news, I say, come to Chile.

Mr. President,

What you are building in Chile is a beacon of hope in a world grown weary of crises. We need the example of Chile. We need the lessons of a successful transition to democracy, of renewed respect for human rights, of economic growth and prosperity.

Allow me to offer to you, Mr. President, and the people of Chile, the deepest admiration and respect of the Canadian people.

The world community will long point to Chile as a shining example of a country getting it right. This summer, when I host the G-7 summit in Canada, I will highlight the success of Chile and other Latin American countries in our discussion of global developments.

Canada is also a political success story. No other country in the world has made a greater effort than Canada to accommodate people of very different backgrounds. We have shown that unity can be built out of diversity. We are not perfect. We still have more to do. But to the rest of the world, what we have accomplished is without parallel. That is what we bring to the world politically. That is what the world expects of us.

For countries like Canada and Chile, success brings special responsibilities. Here in the Americas, we can work together, drawing on our own unique attributes, to strengthen the region, to promote prosperity, to enshrine democracy.

To make the Americas a region of lasting security, a zone of peace and prosperity.

We believe that true security -- political, economic, and social -- must be built on a foundation of stability.

Stability grows with greater understanding, with greater cooperation, with the recognition that the countless connections between us can work to our mutual advantage.

That is the objective we set for ourselves at the Miami Summit of the Americas. The Summit's declaration of principles and its action plan offer an ambitious program for this hemisphere to achieve progress in strengthening democracy, liberalizing trade, and promoting sustainable development.

NAFTA will be our chief economic instrument. It was Canada that insisted on an accession clause in NAFTA. We see NAFTA as the foundation for eventual free trade throughout the Americas.

We are delighted that Chile will become the next member, and as I put it in Miami, will be the "fourth amigo." As you know, Canada has been pushing long and hard for Chile to accede quickly. And you will. And soon.

That is a strong Canadian commitment which I reaffirm to you today.

When future generations look back, they will see Chile's accession to NAFTA as a pivotal moment in the history of this continent.

Here in Latin America, MERCOSUR also represents a bold step forward, one which Canada strongly encourages. Clearly, NAFTA and MERCOSUR are the two pillars from which hemispheric free trade will emerge. We believe it is important that these two groupings start immediate dialogue at senior levels to better understand each other with a view to eventually merging. Canadian Trade Minister Roy MacLaren and I have been discussing this issue with MERCOSUR leaders.

Canada and Chile are also partners in APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group. President Frei and I met with other APEC leaders at our summit in Indonesia last November. I know he shares my optimism coming out of those meetings. APEC points the way towards an eventual free trade zone across the Pacific.

But governments can only do so much. We can establish frameworks, remove obstacles, encourage, promote, and support. In the end, it is the private sector that has to do the hard work of making economies grow. It is our private companies that trade, invest, and create jobs.

That is the real reason I am so optimistic about Canada and Chile.

In 1986, Canadian investment in Chile was $60 million. Within only a few years, that had risen to billions of dollars. Planned investment in Chile is now $5 billion. We are the second largest foreign investor in Chile, and the largest in the mining sector.

This is not mere rhetoric. This is not politicians trying to whip up enthusiasm. This is not "hot money" looking for a quick buck. It is hard-headed decisions by business leaders about where to put their confidence, where to bet their future. Canadian companies have spoken loud and clear. They believe in Chile. They are here for the long haul.

There are now more than 50 Chilean-Canadian joint ventures operating here. They focus on everything from fighting forest fires to building patrol boats and equipment for the mining industry.

The Canadian government has helped sponsor many of these joint ventures. I am particularly pleased to learn that Canadian mining companies, along with universities in Chile and Canada, are working to establish a top program for mining engineers. Investments in education are downpayments for a bright future.

As I look around this room, I see many top leaders from our business communities. In only two years, this Chamber of Commerce has come a long way -- just like the commercial relations between our two countries. Two-way trade is now more than 400 million Canadian dollars. And I am happy to report it is balanced pretty evenly. On a per capita basis, it is one of the most active hemispheric trading relationships Canada has. I know we can make it grow even more quickly.

As our economic relations grow, we are taking steps in other fields to broaden our partnerships. In the cultural area, I believe the newly signed agreement between Chile and Canada on film co-production will stimulate greater cultural exchange. La Red, Channel Four, already operates with a large Canadian involvement.

We are making progress towards the signing of a social security agreement. I hope that by the end of this year, we can sign an agreement that would allow Chileans and Canadians to transfer their social benefits between our two countries. As we move towards an even closer relationship, the mobility of our people needs to be encouraged, not complicated. In this spirit, we will soon be lifting our visa requirement for Chilean visitors to Canada.

President Frei and honoured guests,

It is a privilege to be here today. It is a joy to be in a country that, like Canada, welcomes change, that sees the future as an opportunity and not a threat.

Today, we celebrate our friendship. Tomorrow, we continue to build for the future.

Thank you.