What are the Pacific Alliance's objectives? The ambitions of its members go well beyond lowering barriers to trade. They're also collaborating to promote trade and attract investment, with a focus on Asian markets. They have taken necessary steps to integrate their stock markets and have removed visa requirements for members in order to facilitate the free movement of capital and people.
Further, to advance cooperation among themselves and with third parties, the members of the alliance established the “Pacific Cooperation Platform”, which will promote cooperation activities in: environment and climate change; innovation, science and technology; micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises; social development; and education mobility, that is, the creation of scholarships.
But there are still many unknowns in this evolving initiative, in particular how far its members are really prepared to go in their collaboration. Also, members have yet to elaborate how observers can engage substantively in the work of the alliance. And, because it is so new and the alliance has not yet admitted any new members, it has yet to define the requirements and a process for accession.
Looking forward, we're actively drawing on our bilateral relationships with the individual members of this alliance to engage with them and to define and build our relationship with them, as a group.
Further, Canada will participate in the upcoming leaders summit planned for May 23, 2013 in Colombia, which will be our first summit as an observer. We understand that Colombia will also be inviting representatives of the Canadian private sector and those of other observer countries to participate in the Business Council of the Pacific Alliance, which will bolster ties and dialogue and make proposals to leaders.
In sum, the Pacific Alliance is an exciting new regional initiative among key partners and close partners for Canada. It is still a work in progress, but one that is moving rapidly, and we're actively engaged with the members and with other observers to make sure Canada is enhancing our relationship with the Pacific Alliance, as a group, as it goes forward.
Thank you.