Rideau Hall, Sunday, September 21, 2014

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It gives me great pleasure to welcome you, President Park, as well as your entire delegation, to Canada. It is delightful to have the opportunity to reciprocate the warm hospitality that I received during my visit to the Republic of Korea last year for your inauguration.

I must say, Korea left with me some lasting impressions. It is a beautiful and flourishing country, and I greatly admire its tenacity and creative spirit. I was pleased to meet with many Koreans, as well as expatriate Canadians, who are working together to achieve great things.

And I was struck by the potential we have to do so much more together.

Our two countries have worked side by side in many areas for more than half a century, particularly to make this a safer world for our people. I am of course thinking of the 30 000 Canadians who fought during the Korean War, and the more than 500 soldiers who died, defending freedom and the ideals that our two countries cherish.

During my visit to your country, I met with veterans of the war and I know that you will be doing the same here in Canada. We must never forget the bravery of those who have served our countries or sacrifices they made as we work to bring security and prosperity to our peoples.

The recent drafting of a historic free trade agreement will allow both our countries to thrive. In addition, Canada and Korea are continuing to co-operate in the areas of business, innovation and education.

Canadian businesspeople recognize opportunities in Korea and are investing in increasing numbers, and the same can be said for Korean investors in Canada. As well, we are looking for ways to improve on our already strong ties in the education and innovation sectors.

Korea, for example, is Canada’s third-largest source of international students, and there are many Canadians teaching in Korea. This exchange of knowledge and ideas strengthens us as nations. We are grateful for the contributions that Koreans make to Canadian culture.

It is the Korean community in Canada, which numbers close to 220 000, that makes my final theme of partnerships a natural fit. My visit to your country in 2013 coincided with the Year of Korea in Canada and the Year of Canada in Korea, as well as the 50th anniversary of our bilateral relations.

Canada is fortunate to have found such a willing partner in you, President Park, and in Korea. I am pleased that you will be seeing many parts of Canada, and discovering what we have to offer and our willingness to collaborate with your country.

Canada and Korea have a long history of working, teaching and learning together. We share the values of freedom, democracy, fairness and the rule of law. Our people are educated and respected as responsible actors on the world stage. All of this is an excellent foundation on which to continue to build our future.

For more than 50 years, our two nations have engaged in the sharing of knowledge that stems from a close and friendly relationship. Tonight, as we celebrate our ties, I would like to raise a glass to our shared history and to the promise of even more exchanges as we work towards a smarter, more caring world.

Thank you.