MINISTER DAY HIGHLIGHTS ASIA-PACIFIC GATEWAY AS DIRECT LINK TO NORTH AMERICA

GUANGZHOU, CHINA, Nov. 9 /CNW/ - Today the Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, concluded a visit to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Guangzhou, where he promoted the Asia-Pacific Gateway as an efficient, reliable and secure way of moving products between North America and Asia.

"Throughout my visit, I have continually highlighted the extensive commercial benefits that the Asia-Pacific Gateway can bring to Chinese trade and businesses," said Minister Day. "From Hong Kong to Guangzhou and beyond, the message has been clear: Through Canada's Asia-Pacific Gateway, everything gets there sooner than you think."

In Hong Kong, one of the world's most important financial centres, Minister Day stressed the strength and soundness of Canada's financial system during a speech to the Hong Kong Canadian Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.

The Minister's visit in Hong Kong also included business meetings with Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., an international corporation with holdings in some of the world's biggest port operators, and with export trading giant Li and Fung Trading. During these meetings, he talked about how Canadian ports, airports and railways have found more efficient ways to move containers into the heartland of North America more quickly.

During his Hong Kong visit, Minister Day presented Canadian war veterans' memoirs to the Heritage Gallery at St. Stephen's College, where 56 Canadian and British soldiers were killed by Japanese troops on Christmas Day, 1941.

In Guangzhou, Minister Day met with Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua to discuss cooperation between Canada and Guangdong Province, especially in transportation, shipping and logistics. The Minister also had a meeting with the chairman of China Southern Airlines, Mr. Si Xianmin, that the Vancouver Airport Authority also attended, to discuss ways to advance new air services between our countries.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Canada-China diplomatic relations, Minister Day hosted a reception where he delivered a speech to more than 100 guests about the successful and ongoing cooperation of our countries in the context of commercial relations and the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

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