Statement by the Governor General of Canada in Stockholm, Sweden, in the Presence of Prime Minister Stefan Löfven

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, Feb. 20, 2017 /CNW/ - Let me start by thanking Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia for inviting my wife, Sharon, and me to Sweden for this State visit. We are delighted to be here.

I would also like to sincerely thank Prime Minister Löfven for the opportunity to meet and to discuss the Canada-Sweden relationship. Our discussion was warm and very productive.

Today is the first official day in our four-day visit to Sweden, and already we are overwhelmed by the gracious hospitality we are being shown.

We are very proud to be joined by an outstanding, diverse delegation of talented and dedicated Canadians, including the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Canada's Minister of Science, who share our goal of strengthening collaboration between our two countries.

We are looking forward to becoming acquainted with this beautiful country, and to meeting with the Swedish people in Stockholm, Malmö, Lund and Gothenburg.

Canada and Sweden have an enduring friendship, anchored in our people-to-people ties and our many shared values and interests.

Our ties are longstanding and extensive in trade, innovation, culture, Arctic issues, education and foreign policy—I could go on.

So why are we undertaking this visit now?

In a word: opportunity.

A window of opportunity is opening which will allow us to work together in new and exciting ways. We are entering a moment that is primed for partnership, including in trade.

In a rapidly changing world, the Canada-Sweden relationship matters more than ever. Areas of particular potential include research and innovation, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability and clean technology development.

Already, we enjoy a strong base of co-operation upon which to build, and we are looking forward to seeing first-hand examples of our collaboration during the next few days.

Innovation, inclusivity, sustainability—these are the themes that will guide our visit to Sweden.

Thank you again for welcoming us to this great country, and for being a great friend and partner of Canada.

David Johnston

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SOURCE Governor General of Canada

Media information: Marie-Ève Létourneau, Rideau Hall Press Office, 613-998-0287, 613-302-0912 (cell), [email protected]