Prime Minister Stephen Harper heralds stronger cooperation with China

December 04, 2009

Canada Opens New Trade Offices in China and Invests in Clean Technology Projects

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Speaking to the Canada China Business Council today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that four new Canadian commercial offices are now open for business in China.  This makes Canada’s trade network there one of its largest anywhere in the world.  The Prime Minister also announced that Canada is investing in 19 new clean technology projects under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, including 14 projects in China.

The Prime Minister emphasized in today’s speech the importance of Canada and China working together on energy and clean technology and working with other G-20 partners to help ensure global economic recovery.  He stressed the need to remain committed to sustained economic stimulus, coordinated exit strategies and to fighting protectionism given the role trade plays in creating new opportunities for both countries.

“Pacific nations like Canada and China have much to gain by increased cooperation as the centre of gravity of the world economy swings toward the Pacific,” said the Prime Minister.  “Now is the time to enhance and expand our relationship, to build upon our mutual successes, and to use the authority those successes have afforded us to set an example for others in the world.”

The Prime Minister also signaled Canada will continue to raise human rights while engaging in a more robust relationship with China. 

“Our government believes, and has always believed, that a mutually beneficial economic relationship is not incompatible with a good and frank dialogue on fundamental values like freedom, human rights and the rule of law,” said the Prime Minister.  “In fact, in our experience they go hand in hand, increasingly so as economies progress.”

The four new commercial offices that are now officially open for business are in the rapidly growing business centres of Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenyang and Wuhan.  Two additional commercial offices in Chengdu and Shenzhen opened in September.  This brings to eleven the number of Canadian diplomatic and trade offices in China.

“Together, these offices will enhance our ability to support even more commercial links in exports, investment and innovation between our two countries,” added the Prime Minister.  “This announcement is another concrete step our government is taking toward enhancing and expanding our economic ties with China.”

The 19 new clean technology projects that Canada is investing in include the design of green buildings for communities, research in solar and wind power, and the recovery of gas from landfills.  They demonstrate Canada’s commitment to help accelerate the development and deployment of clean technologies in emerging economies such as China.

China is Canada’s third largest export market and second largest merchandise trading partner.  Its economy is the world’s third largest.  There are also approximately 1.3 million Chinese-Canadians and China is Canada’s number one source of new citizens.



Backgrounder

ASIA-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP ON CLEAN DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE

The Asia-Pacfic Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP) is a public-private partnership of seven countries – Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea and the United States – focussed on the development and use of clean energy technologies. Together, these countries represent more than 50 per cent of the world’s population, economy, coal production and use, and greenhouse gas emissions.  Canada joined the APP in 2007.

The APP's work is conducted through eight task forces focussing on five energy-intensive sectors – aluminum, buildings and appliances, cement, coal mining and steel – and three energy supply sectors – cleaner fossil energy, renewable energy and distributed generation, and power generation and transmission.

In 2008, the Government announced a $20-million investment over three years to support Canada’s participation in the APP.

Today, the Government is announcing that $8.4 million over two years is being invested in the following 19 innovative, clean technology projects: 

1. Net Zero Energy Ready Community at Pu Jiang Yuan
Insightful Healthy Homes, Vancouver, British Columbia

This project involves building a community of multi-family dwellings in Pu Jiang Yuan, China.  The project will be focussed on the integration of affordable and clean energy technologies and equipment in a community scale.  Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

2. Sustainable Condo for China   
EcoSmart Foundation, Vancouver, British Columbia   

This project will create a sustainable condo in collaboration with the emerging Chinese green building industry.  Once completed, it will be showcased in Chongqing, China.
Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

3. Chapman Mills Town Centre   
Minto Communities, Ottawa, Ontario

This project involves a 4.3 hectare development that is part of the City of Ottawa’s Planning and Growth Plan.  The project will include mixed-use facilities with an innovative design incorporating green technologies for use in all APP countries including Canada and China.  Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

4. Resource Positive Envelope Design: Next Generation Green Buildings
Okanagan S&T Council, Kelowna, British Columbia   

The project involves building on existing domestic and international agreements between all APP countries, including Canada and China to share research on green building envelope design (including walls, roofs and foundations).  Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

5. Jinqiao Net Zero Energy Townhouse   
Habitat Design Plus Consulting, Vancouver, British Columbia

A six unit wood frame townhouse building in Shanghai, China, part of a 126-unit wood frame townhouse development, will be constructed so as to be Net Zero Energy (NZE).
Total GoC investment over two years: $375,000

6. Tianjin Eco-City International School   
International Centre for Sustainable Cities, Vancouver, British Columbia

The project is an administration building for an international school, located in Tianjin, China.  Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

7. Water Source Heat Pump in Guangdon Coastal Region   
Cleantech Capital Inc., Markham, Ontario

This project involves the development of a groundwater-source heat pump demonstration centre in the planned Guangdong Jiangmen Sunny Orient Cleantech Eco-Community a coastal area of Jiangmen, China.  Total GoC investment over two years: $400,000

8. Microalgae from GHG to produce renewable fuels   
Pond Biofuels, Toronto, Ontario   

This project involves demonstrating a proprietary turn-key GHG remediation and renewable fuel production solution for the cement industry in China.  Total GoC investment over two years: $280,000

9. Yanji Landfill Gas Recovery   
Landfill Gas Canada Ltd., Oakville, Ontario

The project involves recovering landfill gas (LFG) currently going into the atmosphere from two landfills near Yanji City in Jilin Province, China.  Total GoC investment over two years: $350,000

10. Technologies and Methods for MMV for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)   
St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia

The project involves the first CCS-specific demonstration of important Canadian-developed CO2 storage Measurement, Monitoring and Verification (MMV) tools in China.  Total GoC investment over two years: $287,500

11. China Deep Unmineable Coal CO2 Sequestration Project   
Petromin Resources Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia

This project involves the further development of the technology for CO2 injection and storage in deep coal beds in China, as well as the determination of the suitability and capacity of coal seams in China as long-term storage sites for CO2.  Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

12. Advanced Natural Gas Storage Trailers for Use in Standby and Distributed Power Generation   
ATF Advanced Technologies & Fuels Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

This project involves enabling Dynetek Compressed Natural Gas storage systems to be properly certified, demonstrated and fully optimized for use in India.  Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

13. Extinguishing Underground Coal Seam Fires   
HTC PurEnergy, Regina, Saskatchewan

This project involves the development of a workable and permanent solution to extinguish underground coal seam fires in China.  Total GoC investment over one year: $250,000

14. Thermal Power Plant Efficiency Improvement for Reduced GHG Emissions in India   
ATF Advanced Technologies & Fuels Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

This project involves the baseline assessment of India National Thermal Power Corporation's coal power plants.  Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

15. Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Ethanol   
University of British Columbia and University of Guelph

This project involves integrating existing technologies with new R&D advances to improve the efficiency of the overall bioconversion process for Canada and China.  Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

16. Concentrated Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant Demonstration   
Cyrium Technologies, Ottawa, Ontario

This project involves building a demonstration scale photovoltaic solar power plant using the highest efficiency cells with the highest concentration optical system.  This project will support the integration of world-class Canadian technology in large-scale solar collector systems in China.
Total GoC investment over one year: $500,000

17. Tidal current energy conversion systems   
Powertech Labs, Surrey, British Columbia

This project involves the design and manufacture of a utility scale (approximately 250kW) vertical axis tidal current energy conversion system in Canada.  Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

18. Wind turbine for remote village hook-up   
MAGENN Power, Ottawa, Ontario

This project involves adapting the Magenn MARS High Altitude Wind Energy Turbine or off-grid rural communities and buildings in India.  Total GoC investment over two years: $500,000

19. Demonstration, Analysis and Market transformation of GSHP for India   
Canadian GeoExchange Coalition, Montréal, Quebec

This project involves defining electrical power savings, energy and renewable energy delivery potential of ground source heat pump (GSHP) technology for HVAC and water heating in southern Asia.  Total GoC investment over two years: $446,160



Backgrounder

NEW OFFICE OPENINGS IN CHINA

Canada and China have a long-standing and growing bilateral relationship.  In order to promote and foster enhanced relations, and to better provide consular, trade and immigration services, Canada and China are expanding their current network of offices in each other’s country.

New Commercial Offices in Emerging Business Centres in China

Canada’s presence in China now includes six new trade offices delivering services to Canadian businesses in the emerging business centres of Shenyang, Qingdao, Wuhan, Nanjing, Chengdu and Shenzhen.  The population of these cities is over 50 million, greater than Canada’s total population.

These offices are in addition to Canada’s Embassy in Beijing, Consulate in Chongqing and Consulates General in Guangzhou, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Shanghai.  This makes Canada’s trade network in China one of its largest anywhere in the world.

The offices are collaborations between Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian Commercial Corporation.  Along with Export Development Canada, these organizations are partners in Canada’s international trade portfolio, facilitating trade links between Canada and foreign countries. 

This expanded commercial presence will work to create more opportunities for Canada in trade, investment and science and technology.