The two leaders agreed to upgrade their bilateral relations from a special partnership to a strategic partnership. They also adopted a joint declaration which covers international cooperation, extended bilateral exchanges and the future direction of the bilateral relationship.
President Park valued the relations upgrade, saying, “Our bilateral relationship holds great growth potential, as the two countries are complementary to each other as global partners.”
President Park Geun-hye (left) and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper shake hands prior to the Korea-Canada summit on September 22 at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
President Park Geun-hye (left) and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper pose for photos prior to the Korea-Canada summit on September 22 at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
President Park Geun-hye (third from left) and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper hold the Korea-Canada summit on September 22 at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Korea, Canada sign FTA
At the joint press conference after the summit, Park said, “I would like to welcome the signing of the Korea-Canada FTA. I agree that we need to make efforts to maximize the effects of the free trade deal.”
“We agreed to find measures so that the free trade deal can have a bigger effect on not just trade and investment but also across wider areas, including cooperation on technology, people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation in the private sector, so that our bilateral economic cooperation can be brought up a notch,” said the president.
Harper said, “Today is a very historic day for both countries.” The Canadian leader said the bilateral free trade deal will be beneficial for the peoples of both countries.
“The free trade agreement will offer jobs for Koreans and Canadians and provide opportunities for Korean and Canadian firms. Both countries will be given more choices and opportunities in terms of economic growth and investment,” he said.
President Park Geun-hye (left) and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper sign the Korea-Canada FTA in the Hall of Honour at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
President Park Geun-hye (left) and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper shake hands after signing the Korea-Canada FTA in the Hall of Honour at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
President Park Geun-hye (left) and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper shake hands prior to the joint press conference after the summit at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Korea, Canada sign MOUs in 9 sectors
On the occasion of the summit, the two countries signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) across nine areas, including energy, natural resources, science, technology, developing the Arctic, people-to-people exchanges and other spheres. Both nations also signed an agreement to lift limits on the number of flights and aviation routes between the two countries.
The two leaders agreed to expand the working holiday program. The number of program participants rose to 4,000 these days, from only 200 in 1996 when the program first began.
Prime Minister Harper reaffirmed his support for President Park’s vision for a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula and her Northeast Asian peace vision. The two leaders called for Pyongyang to stop making provocative actions and to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.
By Yoon Sojung
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
arete@korea.kr