PRIME
MINISTER TO VISIT ASIA
Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that he will visit Tsunami-affected countries Thailand, Sri Lanka and India, as well as Japan and China, from January 15 to 23, 2005.
Prime Minister Paul
Martin, during his press conference to members of the National Press.
"Asia
is a dynamic region which holds tremendous opportunity, but which is being
challenged by the devastation wrought by the tsunami,” said the Prime
Minister. "My trip is an opportunity to express solidarity with the
governments and populations of the region as they forge ahead with
recovery efforts and to
confer with other donors, but also to revitalize bilateral relations with each country
and advance global issues.”
In Phuket, Thailand, on
January 16, the Prime Minister will tour tsunami-affected areas and
discuss with government officials and volunteers both the recovery
underway and future reconstruction needs. He will also meet with members
of the Canadian
forensic team.
In
Sri Lanka on January 17, the Prime Minister will survey the tsunami-hit
region from the air and visit the DART team deployed in Ampara. In
Colombo, the Prime Minister will meet with humanitarian agencies, President Chandrika
Kumaratunga and
members of parliament.
“I
look forward to receiving first-hand reports from Canadians in the region
as we continue to plan Canada’s comprehensive contribution to
longer-term reconstruction,” said the Prime Minister. I will also thank
the public servants who are working tirelessly in support of affected Canadians and their
families, and
individual Canadians who are reinforcing the efforts of governments and international partners.”
In India the following
day, the Prime Minister will lay a wreath at the Rajghat,
a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, before meetings with President Abdul
Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Discussions will focus on
ways to strengthen our bilateral partnership, including efforts on global
environmental and security issues such as climate change, terrorism, and
global governance.
The Prime Minister will also
be briefed on the impact of the tsunami and meet with a Canadian tsunami
expert who is presently in New Delhi to explore ways in which Canada and
India can collaborate on Tsunami-warning procedures for the Indian Ocean
region.
While in Tokyo, Japan, on
January 19, the Prime Minister will address a luncheon hosted by the
Nippon Keidanren – also known as the Japan Business Federation, an
organization whose membership includes large Japanese multinationals, and
members of the Canadian business community in Japan. The Prime
Minister will then meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The
next day, he will attend a breakfast roundtable meeting to discuss global
issues with Japanese decision and opinion leaders.
The Prime Minister will
then travel to Beijing, China, where he will meet with
and attend a working luncheon hosted by Premier Wen Jiabao,
followed by meetings with President Hu Jintao and the Chairman of the
National People's Congress, Wu Bangguo. Discussions are expected to focus
on a wide range of economic, bilateral, and global topics, including human
rights, environment and health. Later that day, the Prime Minister will
address a Canada-China Business Council (CCBC) dinner. The CCBC works
closely with the Government of Canada to expand trade and investment with
China.
The Prime Minister’s
trip to China coincides with a January 18-25 trade mission being led by
International Trade Minister Jim Peterson. The mission includes stops in
Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, China.
Finally, the Prime
Minister will visit Hong Kong, China, where he will meet with Chief
Executive Mr Tung Chee Hwa on January 22. The following day, the Prime
Minister and Veteran’s Affairs Minister Albina Guarnieri will attend a
remembrance ceremony at the Sai Wan Bay War Cemetery, which contains
the graves of Canadians who died in
the Battle of Hong Kong or subsequently in captivity.
This
will be the first of many ceremonies and events to commemorate 2005 as the
Year of the Veteran, designated by the Government of Canada in recognition
of the important contribution made by our
veterans.
