(caption: Premier Gordon Campbell celebrates the opportunities for trade and promotes B.C.'s 'green' technology to delegates at a Shanghai Business Community luncheon during his mission to Asia. November 29, 2007.)
Gov of BC release - B.C.'s role as Canada's Pacific Gateway was strengthened during Premier Gordon Campbell's mission to Asia, with an agreement signed between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and China Southern Airlines that will see the first direct flights between Vancouver and Guangzhou starting July 2009.
"The Province has been at the forefront of efforts to establish direct flights between B.C. and Guangdong," said Premier Campbell. "This agreement strengthens B.C.'s position as Canada's Pacific Gateway and supports increased cultural and business connections between B.C. and our sister province in China."
Officials signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during a bilateral meeting Nov. 29, confirming the commencement of the first direct flights between Vancouver and Guangzhou in 2009. Premier Campbell is also meeting with China Eastern Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airlines during his trade mission to discuss expanding transportation links between China and B.C.
"Currently, citizens of Guangdong must travel either to Shanghai or Beijing to take advantage of air services to Vancouver, or alternatively transit through Hong Kong," said Tony Gugliotta, Vancouver Airport Authority's senior vice-president of marketing and commercial development. "Direct air service will allow greater ease and comfort for the many travelers moving between our two provinces."
British Columbia's Pacific Gateway Strategy targets 75% growth in passengers traveling through Vancouver International Airport and a doubling of air cargo handled at YVR by 2020.
China is B.C.'s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade of more than $10 billion in 2006. China is also the top source of immigrants to B.C., with close to 11,000 immigrants settling in B.C. in 2006. Guangdong and British Columbia have been sister provinces since 1995.
Gov of BC release - Four agreements signed between British Columbia and the Province of Guangdong, China, will see the sister-provinces build advanced clean-energy partnerships, pursue investment and trade opportunities, and share expertise on emergency management, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.
"British Columbia's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in particular creates opportunities to establish a global profile for the province's advanced energy sector and offers mutual benefits for Guangdong, which is pursuing its own environmentally sustainable economic growth," said Campbell. "These agreements will promote the exchange of ideas and expertise in the areas of clean energy and emergency management, and build on our trade relationship."
The four Memoranda Of Understanding (MOUs) signed today cover important areas of mutual interest for B.C. and Guangdong:
- Two MOUs on two-way investment and trade promotion will identify areas for enhanced investment and export, including natural resources, technology, manufacturing, communications and tourism. The MOUs anticipate exchanges on investment and trade policies, investment environment, and joint trade promotion activities, and build contacts between companies and investors.
- An MOU on clean energy co-operation will see the provinces exchange information on clean energy policies and regulations, such as recent legislation that sets out B.C.'s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2020. The agreement also serves as a bridge for exchanges between clean energy companies, and plans invitations to seminars and trade fairs and the organization of clean-energy business missions.
- An MOU on sharing emergency management information and expertise will see the two provinces exchange information and delegations and plan for joint training opportunities for emergency management officials.
Guangdong and B.C. first established a twinning relationship in 1995. Since 2001, there have been nine provincial missions between the two jurisdictions.
"These agreements will see unprecedented levels of collaboration between our two jurisdictions and establish contacts in government and industry that will benefit both Guangdong and British Columbia," said Richard Tsan Ming Lee, Parliamentary Secretary for the Asia Pacific Initiative and MLA for Burnaby North.
"They add new depth and economic strength to our twinning relationship and help foster the Asia Pacific gateway culture necessary to make B.C. the most desirable destination for Asia Pacific business, investment, education and tourism."
Premier Campbell is leading a 12-day mission to China and India. Stops include Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru between Nov. 27 and Dec. 8, 2007.
