Prime minister moves to strengthen trade, relations with South Korea
Prime minister moves to strengthen trade, relations with South Korea
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