(Hangzhou,4 September 2012)

President Yang Jiemian, Professor Evans,

Ambassador Mei Ping, Ambassador Chen Wenzhao,

 Charge d'affaires ad interim Sarah Taylor,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

I am delighted to join you at the opening session of China-Canada Dialogue II co-sponsored by Shanghai Institute of International Studies and University of British Columbia. Since I served in the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa between 2000 and 2004, it gives me a sense of warmth and closeness to meet Canadian friends here, old and new. To begin with, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Ministy of Foreign Affairs of China, warm congratulations on the opening of this dialogue and sincere thanks to all of you for your longstanding care and support for the friendship between China and Canada.

In 2010, on the 40th anniversary of China-Canada diplomatic relations, Shanghai Institute of International Studies and University of British Columbia held the first round of China-Canada Dialogue. During that workshop, scholars had a in-depth discussion on "Past and Future in China-Canada Relations" and made a lot of valuable recommendations on the development of the bilateral relations. Now that the China-Canada relations enjoy a good growth momentum, it's high time for renowned scholars, distinguished former Ambassadors, Consul-Generals, and other senior diplomats to meet again to discuss "China-Canada Relations: New Dimensions in Cooperation".

As things stand, China-Canada relations grow quite well. Last February, Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid a successful visit to China. Mr.Li Changchun, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee, visited Canada last April. Both visits were very successful and lent strong impetus to the bilateral relations. Both sides set out a common goal of strengthening China-Canada Strategic Partnership. The two countries make solid progress in exchanges and cooperation in such areas as business, energy, resources, environment, education, tourism, judicial and law enforcement. Both sides continue to enhance their communication and coordination on regional and global issues. It's worth mentioning that two-way trade and investment enjoy steady growth. In the first half of this year, according to Chinese statistics, the China-Canada trade volume was nearly 25 billion US dollars, and China's overall investment in Canada was more than 23 billion US dollars. Not long ago, the two sides also signed the supplementary protocol to China-Canada Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and issued the report on China-Canada Economic Complementarities Study. These positive achievements have shown the enormous vitality and potential of China-Canada relations.

La Chine et le Canada, tous les deux dans la région pacifique, chacun joue un rôle important sur la scène internationale. Malgré leurs différences dans les domaines de l'histoire, de la culture, du système social, et du niveau de développement, les deux pays n'ont pas de conflit d'intérêt fondamentaux, leurs points d'intérêts communs dépassent largement leurs divergences. L'amitié sino-canadiennne, dont le docteur Norman Bethune est un symbole, s'avère toujours plus dynamique malgré l'épreuve du temps.

【China and Canada, situated on both ends of the Pacific, are of important influence in the world. Despite the differences in culture, social system and stage of development, there is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and Canada. China and Canada have far greater shared interests than differences. The China-Canada friendship with Dr. Norman Bethune as a major icon, has grown from strength to strength.】

Against the complex and volatile international backdrop today, a stronger China-Canada relationship serves the fundamental interests and meets the common aspirations of our two peoples, and contributes to peace, stability and development of the Asia-Pacific and the world at large. It's an important and common task for us to seize the opportunity to broaden our mutual beneficial cooperations across the board and promote the development of China-Canada relations in a sustained, sound and steady way.

The Chinese government always values China-Canada relations. We believe that under the new circumstances, the two countries should make active efforts to advance our relations in the following areas:

First,we should implement the consensus reached by the leaders from both countries, bearing in mind the big picture and the long-term interests, adhere to the principles such as mutual respect, equality and seeking common ground while reserving differences, appropriately accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, so as to keep China-Canada Strategic Partnership on the right course.

Second, we should make full use of the economic complementarities, sign and implement the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement as soon as possible and deepen our cooperation in economic, trade, energy, resources, environmental protection, science, technology, infrastructure, service and other areas. We should also strive to secure the success of more large-scale cooperation projects so as to make our common interest a bigger and more appealing pie.

Third, we should enhance coordination and cooperation in such multilateral forums as the UN, G20 and APEC and on major regional and international issues, and make greater contribution to the peace, security and sustainable development of this region and the world at large.

Fourth, we should encourage exchanges between legislatures, political parties, media, cultural, academic and educational institutions, tourism, sports, judicial and law enforcement and local authorities, so as to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and further consolidate public support for China-Canada relations.

Mesdames et Messieurs, pour construire une relation sino-canadienne saine, stable et dynamique, nous avons besoin de la participation et du soutient des peuples chinois et canadien de tous les horizons.

【A sound, steady and thriving China-Canada relationship would not be possible without the support and commitment of people from different sectors in the two countries.】

We have with us today seasoned diplomats and experts, scholars and businessmen well-versed in the bilateral relationship. Over the years, all of you have offered important advice, made a great deal of concrete efforts on the ground in growing the relationship and promoting the cooperation across the board between the two countries. I deeply appreciate your role and believe all of you will make fresh contribution to the further development of China-Canada relations.

Finally, I wish the dialogue a complete success.

Thank you.

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