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Minister Fast Meets with Chinese Counterpart at WTO Ministerial Meeting

December 14, 2011 - Geneva, Switzerland - The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and Chen Deming, China’s Minister of Commerce, met on the margins of the Eighth World Trade Organization Ministerial Meeting in Geneva to build on their recent previous bilateral discussions in Beijing in October and Honolulu in November. The ministers hailed the recent progress made during negotiations on a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement (FIPA), the latest discussions for which took place December 12. A FIPA with China offers great opportunities for Canadian businesses, which will in turn contribute to China’s continued economic growth through increased Canadian investment and expertise in sectors such as aerospace, high-value-added manufacturing, and science and technology.

Canada and China enjoy an increasingly prosperous relationship. China is now Canada’s second-largest individual merchandise trading partner. Canadian merchandise exports to China more than tripled between 2001 and 2010.

Please consult Minister Fast Visits Europe and Attends WTO Conference and Minister Fast's photo gallery.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Rudy Husny
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-7332

Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
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