Canadian premier ends Manila visit

Canadian premier ends Manila visit

MANILA (Reuter): Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien left
the Philippines yesterday after a three-day state visit during
which he took over chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Canadian Embassy officials said Chretien had left for Bangkok,
the third and final stop on his three-nation Asian tour that
earlier took him to Seoul.

He was accompanied by 350 business leaders from engineering
construction firms, wheat traders, aircraft manufacturers,
telecommunications equipment makers and education companies. They
inked deals worth $36 million while in the Philippines and
reached agreements in principle worth another $469 million.

Both Canadian and Filipino government officials called the
Manila visit a success that had paved the way for increased
economic relations between the two countries.