Canadian PM heads to China
February 7th, 2012 - 2:57 pm ICT by IANSOttawa, Feb 7 (IANS) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper left Monday on a five-day official visit to China to enhance strategic partnership between the two countries.
Harper is taking along a large delegation of ministers and MPs, including Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, International Trade Minister Ed Fast and Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver.
Also travelling is a strong business delegation with representatives from the energy, transport, education and other sectors.
The visit will take them to Beijing, Guangzhou and Chongqing Feb 7-11.
Harper told Xinhua that Canada was looking for new markets for its goods and services, and China and the entire Asia-Pacific region were an area of tremendous opportunity.
“We hope to expand on our strategic partnership with China, and in particular we hope to deepen the economic and trade ties between our two countries,” he said.
Harper stressed that like China, Canada was also a Pacific nation with a growing economy and strong potential. So it makes sense for China and Canada to be fully engaged with each other.
Harper paid his first visit to China in December 2009, which took him to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong and led to a return visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao in June 2010.
China is Canada’s second largest individual trading partner after the US, and bilateral trade is expanding rapidly.
- Canada to strengthen strategic ties with China - Jan 12, 2012
- China seeks closer ties with Germany - Feb 03, 2012
- China loans two pandas to Canada - Feb 12, 2012
- China, US should promote peace in Asia-Pacific: Hu - May 03, 2012
- China pledged to reduce trade imbalance: PM - Apr 17, 2011
- Chinese president arrives in Hawaii for APEC meeting - Nov 11, 2011
- Hu, Putin discuss bilateral cooperation, strategic tie-ups - Oct 12, 2011
- Chinese President Hu proposes four points to improve US relations - Jan 18, 2011
- Merkel concludes China visit - Feb 04, 2012
- Japan PM might visit China to improve the soured bilateral ties - Jan 01, 2011
- Important for China to communicate with US: Hu - Nov 13, 2011
- Ahead of Hu's visit, India, China hold talks (Lead) - Mar 01, 2012
- Canada hosts Chinese president ahead of Indian PM (With Image) - Jun 25, 2010
- China, Britain cooperation outweighs competition: Hu Jintao - Nov 10, 2010
- Tibetans protest as India, China hold talks - Mar 01, 2012
Tags: asia pacific region, bilateral trade, business delegation, canadian prime minister, canadian prime minister stephen harper, chinese president hu, chinese president hu jintao, energy transport, entire asia, foreign affairs minister, hu jintao, joe oliver, john baird, natural resources minister, pacific nation, president hu jintao, prime minister stephen harper, stephen harper, strategic partnership, trade ties