Prime Minister to Host 5th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting November 7, 1997 Ottawa, Ontario Prime Minister Jean Chrétien will host leaders from 17 other Pacific Rim economies for the fifth Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in Vancouver on Nov. 24 and 25. "Bringing APEC to Canada is an important investment in Canada's future. Developments in Asia Pacific touch the lives of Canadians more and more as a result of growing business, immigration and cultural ties," said the Prime Minister. "This is a golden opportunity for Canada to work with our Asia Pacific partners to put in place the building blocks of economic development that will help create a stronger, more prosperous and equitable APEC community." "Our Asia Pacific partners will see first-hand that Canada is an excellent place to do business, study and travel. I'm confident that they will appreciate the warmth, diversity and tradition of mutual respect within Canada - qualities that unite us from coast-to-coast-to- coast and help make Canada the best place in the world in which to live," he added. APEC leaders are expected to discuss current and long-term issues that have an impact on growth and development in the region and provide direction for future work. These meetings are the culmination of a year-long effort to advance freer trade and investment and cultivate greater co-operation on economic development, particularly in infrastructure and sustainable growth. APEC has also focused on expanding the involvement of academics, women, youth, small business, labour and others in order to better inform APEC's work and strengthen ties among people in the region. More than 8,000 government, business and media representatives are expected to come to Vancouver, generating more than $23 million in revenue for the local economy. The event will mark the high point of Canada's Year of Asia Pacific. More than 600 events are being held across Canada to celebrate Canada's Pacific heritage and to stimulate stronger ties to the region, particularly by small and medium enterprises and young people. Many of the events have involved the participation of cultural communities, highlighting Canada's cultural diversity. Formed in 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is now the main forum in the Asia-Pacific region for promoting freer trade and investment and for co- operating on economic growth and development. Together, APEC members have a combined gross national product of $16 trillion US in 1996, about half of the world's total annual output and represent about half of the world's total merchandise trade. In 1996, Canada's two-way trade with APEC members, excluding the United States, reached $58.6 billion. Since APEC's inception in 1989, two-way trade with the same economies has grown more than $20 billion. APEC's 18 members are Australia; Brunei; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; the Philippines; the Republic of Korea; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand and the United States. The Leaders' Meeting will be preceded by the ninth meeting of APEC ministers responsible for trade and for foreign affairs on Nov. 21 and 22. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy, Minister for International Trade Sergio Marchi and Secretary of State (Asia- Pacific) Raymond Chan will also attend. A preliminary copy of the program of APEC and related events is attached.
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9TH MINISTERIAL MEETING 5TH ECONOMIC LEADERS MEETING VANCOUVER, CANADA NOVEMBER 19 - 25, 1997 OFFICIAL PROGRAM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19
0900 - 1700 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20
0900 - 1700
1700 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21
1400 - 1700 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22 0900 - 1200
1400 - 1700 1715 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 all day MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 1000 - 1300 1600 - 1700 1715 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 1800 - 2200 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 0930 - 1200 1200 - 1350 1400 - 1530 1545 - 1600 1645
November 16-19 November 19-21 Friday, November 21 0730 - 0830 hrs all day 1700 - 1900 hrs Saturday, November 22 0730 - 0830 hrs All Day 1900 - 2100 hrs Sunday, November 23 0730 - 0830 hrs All Day 1830 - 2230 1800 - 2230 hrs |
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