Harper welcomes South Korean president

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper is welcoming South Korean President Park Geun-hye to Parliament Hill.

Park is finishing up her state visit to Canada with a meeting in Harper’s Centre Block office.

The two countries announced the completion of a free trade agreement earlier this year after a decade of on-again, off-again negotiations.

The Harper government says the deal would increase Canadian exports to South Korea by 32 per cent and grow the economy by $1.7 billion.

As Canada’s first major trade deal in the Asia-Pacific, it is also seen as a major stepping stone for the country’s trade ambitions in the region.

The South Korean pact and Canada’s recent investment protection agreement with China are seen as important steps towards boosting business ties with Asia to help grow the economy.