In this week's Quebec Summit, our goal is simple, yet profound. The discussions we hold, and the mandates we produce, must help improve the lives of people throughout our hemisphere. The summit is given meaning and value by concrete results. We must strengthen democratic institutions in this hemisphere, to give reality to the forms of democracy. This means improving judicial institutions, and making government more open.
Good government is essential to building the trust of our citizens.
And democratic values must remain the core of our hemispheric familia. As Prime Minister Chretien so aptly said in this very hall last February, we must ensure that smaller economies are provided the assistance they need to implement trade agreements, and to realize the full benefits of a more integrated hemisphere. We must extend the benefits of education in this hemisphere. Both development and democracy in the long term depend on education. We must build the skills and reward the hopes of all our people.