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When I travel to places like China and the U.S. as minister of foreign affairs, Canadians instinctively understand the importance of these visits. Canada’s cooperation with these world powers is vital to our nation’s prosperity and security. The welder in Windsor and the millwright in Fort McMurray can appreciate that their livelihoods are connected to these huge economic powers outside our borders.

The simple fact is that Canada cannot rely solely on a few huge partners for our economic wellbeing. That’s why Prime Minister Stephen Harper and I have made it a priority to foster beneficial relationships with the economies of the future. To paraphrase “The Great One”, we’re looking at where the puck is going, not where it is.

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For Canada, one of the most important countries down-ice is Indonesia, where I landed this week for my fourth visit since becoming foreign minister.

This visit is special. On Monday night, I had the honour of being the first foreign minister to meet with Indonesia’s newly elected president, Joko Widodo.