Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada and Deputy of the Governor General,
Prime Minister,
Speakers,
Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Her Majesty the Queen and I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Canada for the warm welcome, and to everyone who has received us so generously.
We are sorry that the Governor-General is prevented from participating in this state visit and we want to express our best wishes for a swift recovery.
It is a pleasure to be back in Canada. Our first state visit took place in 1988, and the most recent was in 2006. We have also been fortunate to return on several other occasions – including the unforgettable Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010. Sweden’s and Canada’s many gold medals made the experience even more memorable!
Personally, I have a very special bond to Canada. My great grandfather, Prince Arthur of Connaught, was Governor-General of Canada from 1911 to 1916, and lived here at Rideau Hall. It always feels very special to be here.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Canada and Sweden established diplomatic relations in 1943, and we have a lot in common. Our societies have built their prosperity on openness. Both our countries remain committed to democracy, human rights and free trade.
We are now NATO allies, and we stand united in our support for Ukraine. As Arctic nations, Canada and Sweden share a vital role in addressing the complex challenges in the region and in keeping it secure and peaceful.
Canada was the first country to ratify our NATO application - an expression of trust and friendship. This bond is reflected in our joint contribution to European and transatlantic security. One telling example is the Canada-led NATO Multinational Brigade, the Forward Land Forces in Latvia, in which Canadian and Swedish soldiers stand shoulder-to-shoulder.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Earlier today, a strategic partnership between our countries was launched, spanning security and defence. Dialogue and exchange of experiences related to Indigenous culture and language issues will also be included in this collaboration. We look forward to addressing these matters together.
Canada is Sweden’s 14th biggest export market and around 150 Swedish companies are established here. Both our countries are global frontrunners in innovation and have strong ecosystems in research and technology.
In addition, cooperation between research institutions and student exchanges constitute a solid base of talent for the future. Last year, many Swedish students went to Canada. And Sweden had the pleasure of welcoming a lot of Canadian students in return.
Finally, the people of Canada and Sweden are united in their passion for hockey. The careers of many Swedish players in Canada reflect the close and long-standing ties between our hockey communities. Many Swedish hockey players have spent significant parts of their careers in Canada – Börje Salming, Mats Sundin, Daniel Alfredsson, and William Nylander, to name just a few.
Hockey evokes strong feelings in both our countries, and when our national teams meet on the rink, Canada’s and Sweden’s interests are certainly not aligned. The same could probably be said about curling, where both our countries are among the very best in the world. But as I have said tonight, there is no doubt that on the world stage, when it comes to fundamental values and interests, Canada and Sweden play on the same team.
Thank you.
Prime Minister,
Speakers,
Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Her Majesty the Queen and I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Canada for the warm welcome, and to everyone who has received us so generously.
We are sorry that the Governor-General is prevented from participating in this state visit and we want to express our best wishes for a swift recovery.
It is a pleasure to be back in Canada. Our first state visit took place in 1988, and the most recent was in 2006. We have also been fortunate to return on several other occasions – including the unforgettable Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010. Sweden’s and Canada’s many gold medals made the experience even more memorable!
Personally, I have a very special bond to Canada. My great grandfather, Prince Arthur of Connaught, was Governor-General of Canada from 1911 to 1916, and lived here at Rideau Hall. It always feels very special to be here.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Canada and Sweden established diplomatic relations in 1943, and we have a lot in common. Our societies have built their prosperity on openness. Both our countries remain committed to democracy, human rights and free trade.
We are now NATO allies, and we stand united in our support for Ukraine. As Arctic nations, Canada and Sweden share a vital role in addressing the complex challenges in the region and in keeping it secure and peaceful.
Canada was the first country to ratify our NATO application - an expression of trust and friendship. This bond is reflected in our joint contribution to European and transatlantic security. One telling example is the Canada-led NATO Multinational Brigade, the Forward Land Forces in Latvia, in which Canadian and Swedish soldiers stand shoulder-to-shoulder.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Earlier today, a strategic partnership between our countries was launched, spanning security and defence. Dialogue and exchange of experiences related to Indigenous culture and language issues will also be included in this collaboration. We look forward to addressing these matters together.
Canada is Sweden’s 14th biggest export market and around 150 Swedish companies are established here. Both our countries are global frontrunners in innovation and have strong ecosystems in research and technology.
In addition, cooperation between research institutions and student exchanges constitute a solid base of talent for the future. Last year, many Swedish students went to Canada. And Sweden had the pleasure of welcoming a lot of Canadian students in return.
Finally, the people of Canada and Sweden are united in their passion for hockey. The careers of many Swedish players in Canada reflect the close and long-standing ties between our hockey communities. Many Swedish hockey players have spent significant parts of their careers in Canada – Börje Salming, Mats Sundin, Daniel Alfredsson, and William Nylander, to name just a few.
Hockey evokes strong feelings in both our countries, and when our national teams meet on the rink, Canada’s and Sweden’s interests are certainly not aligned. The same could probably be said about curling, where both our countries are among the very best in the world. But as I have said tonight, there is no doubt that on the world stage, when it comes to fundamental values and interests, Canada and Sweden play on the same team.
Thank you.