Canada's Governor General visits Russia

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Canada's Governor General visits Russia

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Canada's Governor General Adrienne Clarkson touched the subject of Russo-Canadian partnership in the G8 during the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Tuesday. According to Clarkson, the two countries earnestly perceived the G8 commitments, including those related to global partnership.

She added that one half of the Canadian delegation was made up of indigenous peoples of the North and the other half was economists, ecologists, geographers and cultural figures. Clarkson said Russia had a special place in the world in terms of culture.

The Governor General said she was going to visit St Petersburg and Russia's northern areas, including Salekhard. "We also have something to show," said Clarkson, noting that the delegation included film director Denys Arcand, author of the Barbarians Invasion, the Cannes laureate.

Clarkson said she was going to take part in the Cultural Revolution TV show. She added her dream was to learn Russian. The Governor General concluded her speech with a Russian "spasibo" ("thank you").

Ms Clarkson started her speech in English, continued in French, and then shifted between the two languages. At some moment, she forgot to make a pause for the interpreter to translate her. When the Governor General realized her slip and apologized to journalists, Putin noted: "It's good that our guests feel at home here."

Profile of Adrienne Clarkson

Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson(Wu Bing-zhi in Chinese, born February 10, 1939 in Hong Kong) is the current Governor General of Canada.

A Hakka raised in Ontario, Clarkson's ancestry is Taishan, Guangdong, China. She came to Canada as a refugee with her family during the Second World War in 1942. She studied at the University of Toronto and the Sorbonne.

She is well-known from her work in broadcasting, having hosted and produced several shows for the CBC. She was the president and publisher of McClelland & Stewart from 1987 to 1988 and has written several books.

In 1999 she was nominated Governor General by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chr��tien, and approved by Queen Elizabeth II, Canada's legal head of state.

She is married to Canadian author and philosopher John Ralston Saul.

Source: Agencies

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