The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will travel to Davos, Switzerland, from January 25 to January 26, 2008, to attend the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

“The World Economic Forum brings together world economic and political leaders to hold informal and constructive discussions on global issues such as social development and economics,” said Minister Bernier. “While at the WEF, in my discussions with my counterparts, I intend to advance Canadian priorities on issues of international cooperation, foreign policy and reconstruction in Afghanistan.”

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization incorporated as a Swiss not-for-profit foundation, and is based in Geneva. At the Forum’s Annual Meeting—traditionally held at the end of January in the scenic village of Davos, Switzerland—political and business leaders, academics and members of the media address key economic, political and societal issues in a forward-looking and action-oriented way.

The Government of Canada has been invited to the WEF Annual Meeting since 1982.