41.   France is trying to join the project as part of a drive to enlarge its limited economic links with Asia.

42.   Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy led a trade mission to Ukraine last year and the Manitoba government has been busy trying to open economic links to the country.

43.   Guo is head of a committee that coordinates trade and economic links between the two sides.

44.   He cited economic links with Central Asia as key.

45.   He has rejected calls for Arab economic links with Israel.

46.   However, economic links remain important to both countries.

47.   His World Economic Forum groups business, academic and government officials in seminars and meetings to trade ideas on ways to improve economic links and trade.

48.   In addition to economic links, the accord sets human rights standards and emphasizes the importance of democratic institutions in Russia.

49.   In meetings with his Singapore counterpart, Goh Chok Tong, Chretien pushed for more economic links and highlighted the growing trade and investment imbalance.

50.   In Latin America and the Middle East, where the overseas economic links still are strongest with the United States, the dollar remains favored.