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OTTAWA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced here Wednesday he will visit the European Parliament and Germany on February 16-17.
Trudeau is invited by the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. It will be the first time for a sitting Canadian prime minister to addresses the full European Parliament.
Earlier in the day, Trudeau talked with Antonio Tajani by phone, and both affirmed their desire to further strengthen the relationship between Canada and the European Union, according to the Canadian Prime Minister's Office.
They also reiterated their commitment to ratifying and implementing the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as quickly as possible for the mutual benefit of both Canada and the EU.
"CETA is the most progressive trade agreement ever negotiated by Canada or the European Union. CETA sets a high standard for free trade agreements of the future. It will benefit Canada and the European Union by opening new markets and creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers on both sides of the Atlantic," said Trudeau in his announcement.
Trudeau will then pay an official visit to Germany and meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel on key foreign policy and commercial priorities for both countries.
"Germany is an important friend and ally, and I look forward to meeting with Chancellor Merkel to further strengthen this relationship. Our two countries enjoy robust commercial ties that cover trade, investment, science, technology and innovation, and we are always open to new ways to expand this relationship and grow the middle class in both our countries," added the prime minister.
CETA was signed at the Canada-EU Summit in Brussels last October. The EU is Canada's second largest trading partner.
Germany is an important trade and investment partner for Canada. In 2016, the bilateral trade hit more than 21 billion Canadian dollars (about 16 billion U.S.dollars). Germany is also one of the top ten foreign investors in Canada.
