On June 8 and 9, the 11th meeting of exchange mechanism between the National People’s Congress(NPC) of China and Parliament of Canada was conducted in Ottawa. Hon. Zheng Silin, Vice-Chair of NPC Foreign Affairs Committee and Chair of China-Canada Legislative Association, Hon. Joseph Day, Senator and Mr. Daryl Kramp, Member of Parliament, Co-Chair of Canada-China Legislative Association(CCLA) jointly presided over the meeting.

       At the meeting, the two sides lauded the positive progress in China-Canada relations recently, and are of the opinion that between China and Canada, two important countries in Asia Pacific region, to develop a sound and long-term bilateral ties is in the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples and conducive to peace and prosperity of the region as well as of the world at large. They hold that the two sides need to seize the current favorable opportunity to continuously boost mutual trust, properly handle relevant issues and push forward the strategic partnership relations between the two countries.

       The two sides also exchanged views in depth on such issues as current international financial crisis, environment protection, climate change and energy and reached various consensus. They fully agreed that under current situation, China and Canada should further deepen mutual beneficial cooperation in above fields to achieve common development.

       The two sides fully endorsed significant role the inter-parliamentary exchanges played in promoting bilateral relations and pledged continued efforts to advance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. They decided to hold the 12th meeting of the exchange mechanism in China in the fall.

       The Chinese delegation also met with Hon. Noël Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate, Hon. Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons, Hon. Lawrence Canon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Jim Prentice, Minister of Environment, Hon. Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, and exchanged views on issues of common interests.

       H. E. Lan Lijun, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Canada attended all above events.

       The Chinese delegation also visited Vancouver, Toronto, Prince Edward County and Kingston prior to Ottawa, and held various contacts with local business, educational circles and Chinese Community.