Ontario has rich and longstanding cultural and economic ties with China. Over 500,000 people in Ontario list Chinese as their ethnic origin. In recent years, China has emerged as one of the world's biggest emerging markets.
In October 2008, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty led a delegation representing innovative Ontario companies on a trade mission to China to tap into new markets, build on Ontario's strong relationship with China and promote the province's environmental technologies.
China, which has announced efforts to reduce pollution by 10 per cent, is investing $175 billion in environmental protection between 2006 and 2010. During the trip, Ontario firms signed agreements worth more than $600 million with Chinese companies.
The business mission included stops in Shanghai, Nanjing, Beijing and Chongqing. The Premier stated that the mission "deliver[ed] the message that Ontario is open for business, ready to compete and equipped to win. There are great opportunities in China to promote our strengths in environmental technologies and create new partnerships."
The trip, which built on the Premier's first trade and investment mission to China in 2005, included 30 delegates from some of Ontario's most innovative companies.
International Marketing Centre
The Beijing International Marketing Centre is located in the Canadian Embassy. Its mandate is to promote awareness of Ontario and the province's many business opportunities.
Staff activities include, but are not limited to:
- Working with Ontario firms looking for opportunities in China
- Promoting awareness of and access to Ontario-produced goods and services
- Working with Chinese companies to find investment opportunities in Ontario
- Building relationships with the media and local governments
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