President Zedillo to Visit Canada

"Since the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico has become one of Canada's closest trading partners and political allies," said the Prime Minister. "This visit provides an excellent opportunity for our two countries to expand our co-operation and deepen our friendship."

In Ottawa on October 6, President Zedillo will meet with Prime Minister Chrétien to discuss the growing partnership between Canada and Mexico, future goals, work undertaken under the Canada-Mexico Joint Declaration and Action Plan, and preparations for various hemispheric events being held in Canada over the next months, such as: the fifth Americas Business Forum; the Free Trade Area of the Americas ministerial meeting, in Toronto, November 1-4; the General Assembly of the Organizations of American States, in Windsor, June 4-6, 2000; and, the third Summit of the Americas, in Quebec City, in 2001.

Prior to the bilateral discussions, on the morning of October 6, Prime Minister Chrétien and President Zedillo will travel to Mont-Tremblant, Québec, where Mr. Zedillo will deliver the opening address to the Forum of the Federations conference. The Prime Minister and President Zedillo will subsequently return to Ottawa for bilateral discussions.

"Mexico, like Canada, is a well-established federation composed of diverse regions and cultures, each presenting its own set of priorities and needs," said the Prime Minister. "Mr. Zedillo will have much to share at the Conference on the challenge of reconciling diverse, regional needs within a national context."

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555