Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced here Monday that Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel will visit Ottawa on February. 9. "Germany is a valued friend to Canada and a close ally. I look forward to once again meeting with Chancellor Merkel to discuss the upcoming G7 Summit, under her presidency, and to share views on other pressing international priorities - most notably the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the role played by the Putin regime, as well as global efforts to fight terror," said Harper in his announcement.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the economic potential of the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement.

Canada and Germany enjoy close ties, underpinned by active international cooperation, healthy trade and investment relations, and long-standing people-to-people exchanges.

With bilateral merchandise trade totaling nearly $19 billion in 2013, Germany was Canada's ninth largest export market, and ranked fourth among Canada's import suppliers.