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.