Ontario Trade Mission Strengthening Ties with China

Premier McGuinty Meets Chinese Leaders, Participates In Business Luncheon, Opens Research Lab And Speaks To Law Students

November 7, 2005 — BEIJING — Ontario's trade mission to China began its first day of official activities today with Premier Dalton McGuinty stressing the themes of two-way investment, innovation and education.

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"Ontario and China have so much to offer each other and there are so many opportunities for new partnerships between our people," said Premier McGuinty. "This mission is all about strengthening this friendship and building the business ties that contribute to prosperity in Ontario and in China."

The trade mission includes more than 125 people from approximately 100 organizations, representing private sector companies, universities and colleges, municipalities, agricultural organizations and medical research institutions.

Today, the Premier met with Vice Commerce Minister Ma to discuss the advantages of trade and investment with Ontario.

"I emphasized to Vice-Minister Ma that Ontario is a dynamic province with a manufacturing sector that excels because of a highly skilled and well-educated workforce," said Premier McGuinty.

"I spoke about our drive to discover new ideas and develop them into innovative products, and how Ontario is a gateway to the North American market and, because of our diverse population, a passageway to the world."

The Premier also encouraged the government of China to finalize Approved Destination Status negotiations with Canada so that many more Chinese tourists might come to Ontario.

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Joseph Cordiano also met with Chinese officials and business leaders to assist Ontario firms in pursuing opportunities. He also called on Chinese companies to promote the advantages of investing in Ontario.

"Ontario companies excel in so many different sectors -- this trade mission allows us to meet with Chinese officials and business leaders to showcase opportunities for joint ventures and to highlight Ontario's potential as a destination for investment," said Cordiano.

Other activities today included:

• The signing of agreements involving nine Ontario companies and organizations that strengthen cooperation in the fields of education and training, technology and tourism
• An address to a round table of law faculty and students at Tsinghua University in which the Premier encouraged respect for the rule of law and discussed Ontario's democratic reforms
• The opening of a research laboratory that is the product of a partnership between Tsinghua University and Trojan Technologies Inc., a London, Ontario company specializing in clean water technologies.

"We are very proud of our friendship with China, our trade with China and our business with China," said Premier McGuinty. "We want to strengthen that friendship, increase that trade and become even stronger partners.