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Canadian Premier Meets Hong Kong Chief ExecutiveCanadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien met Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Tung Chee Hwa Monday to discuss a wide range of issues involving economic, financial and trade cooperation.Canada and Hong Kong have an opportunity to improve future ties and opportunities by forming a meaningful relationship, Tung told a press conference after a meeting on Parliament Hill. The two sides enjoy a genuinely "human relationship" with half a million Hong Kong Chinese becoming Canadians and 150,000 Canadians making Hong Kong their home, according to the chief executive. "I think future opportunities for Canadian firms will be found in Asia, as most of the countries in Asia recover from the financial turmoil of the last 2.5 years," he said. "I also think that commercial opportunities for Canadian companies will increase as a result of China's accession to WTO," Tung said, adding that he is very optimistic about China's entry into the World Trade Organization by the end of the year. "Hong Kong will be an excellent base for Canadian firms that want to extend their business activities in Asia and on the mainland of China," he said. As one of the most important trading and commercial centers in the world, Hong Kong has become the 13th largest export market for Canada, which, in turn, is Hong Kong's 11th importer. Earlier in the day, Tung also met with Canadian Finance Minister Paul Martin and Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy on the issues of common interests. Tung said he was happy to visit Canada for the first time in his capacity as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Before leaving Canada for the United States Wednesday, Tung is scheduled to address the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association in Toronto Tuesday. Tung arrived in Toronto Saturday to begin his four-day visit. Chinese Ambassador Mei Ping met Tung at the Toronto airport.
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