VANCOUVER
- Ottawa is moving to strengthen ties with South Korea by launching a
foundation that will work towards reaching a free-trade agreement.
Prime
Minister Stephen Harper says the Canada Korea Foundation will encourage
bilateral trade, better diplomatic relations and spur business between
the two countries.
He made the
announcement in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, B.C., on Monday evening
after meeting with Korean and Canadian veterans of the Korean War.
Harper
says the Asia-Pacific Region will play a large part in Canada's future
economic growth, and that the two nations are well suited to each other.
The foundation will also aim to export Canadian energy to South Korea and attract more Korean students to Canada.
South
Korea is currently Canada's seventh-largest merchandise trading
partner, with $3.5 billion exports and $5.9 billion imports in 2009.
From: http://www.news919.com/news/national/article/187153--prime-minister-moves-to-strengthen-trade-relations-with-south-korea