As a part of six-nation tour, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird is away on his first ever visit to Venezuela and first official visit to Cuba in last fifteen years.

After visiting Mexico, John Baird is visiting Cuba Friday. His Cuba trip is the first trip to the country by a Canadian foreign affairs minister since Liberal Lloyd Axworthy visited in 1997.

John Baird will visit Venezuela next Wednesday.

John is likely to touch a wide range of topics including human rights while on his visit to the two countries.

"Our government is focused on creating jobs, growth and economic prosperity," said Baird in a statement. "As part of our principled foreign policy, we will also deliver strong messages on economic reforms and greater respect for human rights and democracy as appropriate."

Apart from meeting the leaders of the host countries, John Baird is scheduled to meet with civil society organizations and local members of the Canadian business communities.

Referring to the visit, the foreign ministry said that Canada is keen on seeing further progress on human rights, democratic governance and economic liberation.

John Baird is also scheduled to visit Panama and the Dominican Republic where the minister is aiming to create economic ties with the two countries, according to the statement.

While in Mexico, the foreign affairs minister met with the President Prena Nieto and Foreign Secretary Jose Antonio Meade.

"Canada and Mexico are close friends and neighbors and have a long-standing strategic partnership in North America, in the hemisphere and in the world. I was pleased to have a brief discussion over lunch with President Peña Nieto," said Baird in a statement, indicating that he had productive discussions with the Mexican leaders in a bid to take the bilateral relationship to a further level.

"To that end, I highlighted our government's recent efforts to facilitate legitimate trade and travel. I am also pleased that nearly 60 percent of all visitor visas now being issued to Mexicans permit visitors to enter Canada multiple times without having to reapply for a visa," added Baird in the statement which was released soon after meeting with the Mexican leaders.

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