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VICTORIA
– B.C.’s role as Canada’s Pacific
Gateway and host of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games lead the items
for discussion during meetings with the B.C. Consular Corps and the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heads of Missions this week, Premier Gordon Campbell said today.
“In
many ways, the strength of our position as Canada’s Pacific Gateway relies as
much on our diplomatic relations as it does on our gateway infrastructure,”
said Campbell. “We committed to seize every opportunity to build on those
relationships and promote B.C. in the Asia-Pacific, and meeting with senior
representatives from the ASEAN nations is a chance to do just that. I welcome
them to B.C. in recognition that ASEAN nations are an important part of the
growth and opportunities open to B.C. in the Pacific Century.”
Premier
Campbell met today with the ASEAN delegation from Ottawa, representing six
ASEAN jurisdictions, to discuss trade and investment opportunities, B.C.’s
climate change initiative, the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and
other priorities.
Colin
Hansen, Minister of Economic Development for B.C., John Van Dongen, Minister of
State for Intergovernmental Relations and other senior members of government
will hold further meetings in Victoria and Vancouver with the ASEAN delegation
and the B.C. Consular Corps throughout this week to promote and discuss
benefits and implementation of the Province’s Asia Pacific Initiative. Released
on April 2, the Asia Pacific Initiative sets out the Province’s long-term
strategy to diversity B.C.’s economic ties with Asia-Pacific countries through
a more co-ordinated approach to facilitating trade and investment.
The ASEAN
region has a population of about 550 million, a total area of 4.5 million
square km, a combined gross domestic product of almost $800 billion US, and
total trade of about $900 billion US. B.C.’s
exports to the region have grown by approximately 32 per cent over the past
five years and totalled $524 million in 2006.
The
B.C. Consular Corps, based mainly in Vancouver, is the official body comprising
all Consular Officers (Consuls General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls and Consular
Agents) resident in the province, representing 91 countries. Functions of the
Consular Officers include representing their country and promoting their
country’s trade within the Consular District.
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contact: |
Press Secretary Office of the Premier 250 213-8218 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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