OTTAWA - The Swedish royal family is paying a rare, three-day state visit to Canada this week, bringing with them a delegation of top government ministers and representatives from dozens of Swedish companies.

King Carl XVI Gustaf — Sweden's longest reigning monarch — and Queen Silvia are in Ottawa and Montreal Tuesday through Thursday. It's their first trip to Canada since 2006, when Stephen Harper was prime minister.

The Swedish Royal Court said Canada and Sweden will launch a strategic partnership during the state visit. Sweden's Industry Minister Ebba Busch and Defence Minister Pal Jonson will be part of the visiting delegation, which is expected to focus on establishing closer ties with Canada on trade and defence.

Canada and Sweden have sought to deepen their relationship since the

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