PRESIDENT OF CHILE TO VISIT CANADA

July 10, 2003
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that the President of Chile, Ricardo Lagos, will visit Canada on July 15 and 16, 2003.

"Canada and Chile enjoy a strong political and economic relationship and we are committed to increasing cooperation between our two countries," said the Prime Minister. "The success of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement highlights Chile's role as one of our most important regional partners, and I look forward to exchanging views with the President on several key hemispheric and global issues."

The Prime Minister will meet with the President in the Shawinigan area where they are expected to discuss a number of points, including the upcoming Special Summit of the Americas and the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

Canada-Chile relations have been growing steadily over the last decade. Both countries cooperate closely on a range of multilateral issues at the United Nations, the Organization of American States and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum as well as through the Summit of the Americas process. Total two-way trade between Canada and Chile has tripled in recent years to more than $950 million in 2002, due in large part to the success of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement.

This will be President Lagos' second visit to Canada.

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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555