Britain and Canada to have joint diplomatic missions overseas

[Gerald]

Britain is to establish joint diplomatic missions abroad with Canada, the Foreign Secretary William Hague will announce.

Mr Hague is to reveal details of this planned new co-operation when he meets his Canadian counterpart John Baird in Ottawa on Monday.

The agreement for joint diplomatic missions overseas could eventually involve Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Hague says it will give Britain "a bigger reach abroad for less cost".

The aim is to expand the countries' diplomatic presence in places where either London or Ottawa does not already have an embassy.

Mr Hague has issued a statement ahead of his announcement on Monday, which said: "As David Cameron said when addressing the Canadian parliament last year: 'We are two nations, but under one Queen and united by one set of values'."

"We have stood shoulder to shoulder from the great wars of the last century to fighting terrorists in Afghanistan and supporting Arab Spring Nations like Libya and Syria. We are first cousins.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19697052


Note: 24 September 2012 Last updated at 02:13 GMT