Canada and Italy Commit to Further Strengthen Their Relations

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi today signed a Canada-Italy Declaration on a Strengthened Partnership.

"A unique combination of close family ties and shared democratic values have made Italy and Canada close friends and partners," said the Prime Minister. "Our Joint Declaration aims to build on this firm foundation. And it reinforces the message that Canada wants to remain an active and engaged partner in the new Europe"

The "Declaration of a Strengthened Partnership Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Italian Republic" commits the two countries to create a more visible and systematic framework for their bilateral relationship, and identifies priority sectors where they can cooperate more effectively and more ambitiously: political relations; economic relations; research and technology; cultural relations; youth programs; and judicial affairs.

In the pursuit of these objectives, Canada and Italy have agreed to hold regular meetings of ministers of Foreign Affairs and ministers for International Trade, and more frequent consultations on issues of mutual concern, such as world peace and security.

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