Ottawa: Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, successfully concluded five weeks of diplomatic engagement in Asia and the Pacific region.

From January 15 to February 21, Mr. Obhrai met with elected and high-level officials of Kiribati, New Zealand, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu and Uzbekistan.

“Throughout this trip, I was proud to offer Canadian views on economic and security issues,” said Parliamentary Secretary Obhrai.

In Turkmenistan, Parliamentary Secretary Obhrai exchanged views with representatives of the country’s oil and gas sector, as well as with non-governmental organizations located there, such as UNICEF.

In Tajikistan, the Parliamentary Secretary had productive meetings with the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Abdullo Yuldoshev, as well as with officials representing UN, European and U.S. interests.

Parliamentary Secretary Obhrai met with prime ministers and foreign ministers in Kiribati, Samoa, Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands, discussing a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. These included security, the impact of the global economic crisis and Canadian assistance to the region. Obhrai also held discussions with New Zealand officials on a range of international issues. “I engaged in constructive discussions regarding economic outlooks, international security and other areas of interest to Canada,” said Parliamentary Secretary Obhrai. “Canada’s presence is welcome worldwide, as we promote our values of freedom and respect for the rule of law.”

Caption: Obhrai with a family in Kiribati