Heilongjiang - Alberta Relations

This map is a generalized illustration only and is not intended to be used for reference purposes. The representation of political boundaries does not necessarily reflect the position of the Government of Alberta on international issues of recognition, sovereignty or jurisdiction.

PROFILE is twinned with Daqing, known as the oil The Government of Alberta made an capital of China. additional $100,000 contribution to flood relief Capital: Harbin efforts and extended a special scholarship to . Heilongjiang is China’s principal oil-producing Population: 38.2 million (2012) Heilongjiang for skill development related to province containing China’s largest oil field, (3 per cent of China’s total population) flood management. Daqing Oilfield. Major Cities: Harbin (12,635,000); Suihua TRADE AND INVESTMENT (5,616,000); Qiqihar (5,710,000); Daqing . Alberta companies have been successful in (2,900,000); and Mudanjiang (2,822,000) supplying energy equipment and services to . China is Alberta’s second largest trading Heilongjiang. In 1998, Sunwing Energy Ltd. of partner. Alberta’s trading relationship with Language: Mandarin Calgary was the first foreign company to China has more than tripled since 2003. Government: Chinese Communist Party produce oil in China. . Commercial activities with Heilongjiang have Head of Government: Governor WANG Xiankui RELATIONSHIP OVERVIEW expanded beyond the petroleum sector and represents the executive branch of government include coal gasification, petrochemical and is responsible to the Heilongjiang Provincial . 2016 will mark the 35th anniversary of the production and manufacturing, cattle breeding, People’s Congress Heilongjiang-Alberta sister province forage seed, hides and malting barley. relationship. In 2011, for the 30th anniversary, Currency: CAD $1 = 4.89 Yuan Renminbi (2015 the Government of Alberta worked with the FORESTRY average) Heilongjiang government to organize several Key Industry Sectors: Petroleum, agriculture, events to mark the occasion. Celebrations . In August 2013, Forestry Division attended the 6th China International Wood Products Trade coal, lumber and heavy industry culminated with a winter ice carving festival in Fair in Heilongjiang. Forestry Division, Alberta in January 2012 featuring a delegation Sources: FPInnovations and Heilongjiang Provincial of ice carvers from Heilongjiang, a gift from the Bank of Canada, Economist Intelligence Unit Department of Forestry coordinated a Heilongjiang government. workshop to promote Alberta’s Forest Industry. DID YOU KNOW? . Similarities between Alberta and Heilongjiang . A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with . Following the recommendation of China’s include climate, topography, energy resources Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Forestry Ambassador to Canada, a protocol of and agricultural production. has been drafted in principal based on previous meetings and is ready to advance understanding and friendship was signed by . Mutual areas of interest and exchange include when additional opportunities for cooperation Alberta and Heilongjiang in 1981. are agreed upon. agriculture, energy, forestry, science and . Heilongjiang is twinned with Hokkaido technology, medicine, culture, education and SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY prefecture in Japan, which is also Alberta’s environmental protection. sister province. . In 2010, Alberta Enterprise and Advanced . In 1998, Heilongjiang suffered its worst Education and the Heilongjiang Department of . The city of Edmonton is twinned with Harbin, flooding in decades. Albertans responded by Sciences and Technology renewed an MOU Heilongjiang’s capital city, and Calgary raising over $200,000 in private donations. on science and technology collaboration.

February 2016 | Input provided by Alberta Ministries of: Agriculture and Forestry; Education; Energy; Economic Development and Trade; Culture and Tourism, Advanced Education

. In support of the MOU and the 30th are over 110 papers jointly published by RECENT VISITS anniversary of the Alberta-Heilongjiang sister researchers from both U of A and HIT. Since province relationship, Alberta Enterprise and 2010, the U of A has had a general MOU, plus . March 2014: The Minister of International and Advanced Education and the Heilongjiang an appendix, related to cooperation regarding Intergovernmental Relations led a mission to Department of Science and Technology held a graduate students jointly-funded with the Heilongjiang to discuss opportunities related to Water Technology Forum in Harbin in January China Scholarship Council. The U of A is a commerce, science and technology, and trade 2011 and a technology industry roundtable popular choice for graduates of HIT. and investment, as well as to provide opening event in Alberta in October 2011. remarks at the Alberta-China Environmental . In July 2015, the Department of East Asian Technology Workshop in Harbin. AGRICULTURE Studies at Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta, rebooted its summer in China . January 2014: The Minister of Jobs, Skills, . In the past, several agricultural co-operation program with a four-week intensive language Training and Labour represented Alberta at agreements, focused on livestock learning session at HIT. In total 40 students the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival opening improvement, pasture management, beef and participated. ceremonies. dairy cattle genetics technology and food processing research and development, were . In July 2014, the U of A and HIT co-hosted the . October 2013: The Minister of Municipal signed between Heilongjiang and Alberta. 2014 China-Canada Joint Workshop on Affairs visited Heilongjiang to meet with Building Dual PhD Degree Programs in members of the government to discuss . In July 10, 2014, the Heilongjiang Academy of Harbin, China. The two-day event brought potential joint projects relating to disaster Sciences and Alberta Innovates-Technology together leaders from 14 Canadian and 21 preparation and management. Futures established a formal partnership to Chinese universities to discuss key issues in develop hemp as a multipurpose crop. establishing dual PhD programs between the . September 2013: The Premier of Alberta two countries. visited Heilongjiang, meeting with the . In 2011, Agriculture and Rural Development Governor to discuss strategies for further collaborated with the Heilongjiang Animal . In 2010, senior representatives from the U of A cooperation between the provinces, and Husbandry Bureau and held a dairy seminar to attended the 90th Anniversary of HIT. In signing a Letter of Intent for cooperation in promote Alberta dairy genetic materials, feed addition, U of A researchers participated in the sustainable economic development. and farm equipment technologies to the dairy Water Technology Forum, held at HIT in industries in Heilongjiang. January 2011, as part of the collaboration . July 2011: Alberta Tourism, Parks and between Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Recreation led an Alberta Hockey Coach . In 2009, Alberta’s Leduc Food Processing Education and the Heilongjiang Department of mission to Heilongjiang to provide on-ice Development Centre signed an agreement Science and Technology. training sessions and to discuss future sports with the Daqing Food Processing Research collaboration. and Development Centre in Heilongjiang. CULTURE . May 2011: The Minister of Enterprise and EDUCATION . The Royal Alberta Museum has developed Advanced Education led an investment strong links with Chinese cultural institutions mission to China, including Harbin, to mark the . In July 2013, 19 students (ages 14-18) from bringing unique aspects of Chinese culture to 30th anniversary of the Alberta-Heilongjiang across Alberta participated in the Student Alberta. Examples include the “Rise of the sister province relationship. Summer Camp in China, hosted by Black Dragon” exhibits from the Jurchen Jin Heilongjiang and the Council of Chinese Dynasty and a Qing Dynasty exhibit from . April 2011: The Executive Vice-Governor of Language International (Hanban). Heilongjiang. Heilongjiang led a 10-person delegation to Edmonton to commemorate the 30th . Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks . Heilongjiang and Alberta have shared anniversary of the Alberta-Heilongjiang sister and Rundle College in Calgary both have paleontological research expertise. province relationship. school partnerships with counterparts in Heilongjiang. EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES . October 2010: The Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education led a mission to Beijing, . The University of Calgary has a significant . In March 2014, the Government of Alberta Harbin, Daqing and Hong Kong to meet with student exchange and research collaboration partnered with Heilongjiang Environmental government and industry leaders to strengthen agreement with Harbin Medical University. In Protection Department and Heilongjiang innovation and educational bonds. 2014, an articulation agreement was signed Foreign Affairs Office to host the Alberta-China with Harbin Institute of Technology, offering Environmental Technology Workshop in . May 2010: The Premiers of Alberta, British students the opportunity to earn dual degrees. Harbin. The Forum provided the Alberta Columbia and Saskatchewan led a joint trade environmental industry with opportunities to mission to China to promote trade and . NAIT has been cooperating with Heilongjiang explore the Chinese market and develop investment opportunities between Western University of Science and Technology since cooperative partnerships in China. Canada and Asia. The Premier of Alberta also 2004 through a program linkage in the met with the Governor of Heilongjiang in Computer Systems Technology/Digital Media . Significant opportunity exists in water quality Shanghai at the 2010 Shanghai Expo. and IT diploma programs. monitoring (consulting and technology) within China. . The University of Alberta (U of A) and Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) have a long history of cooperation, especially through joint research projects. As of August 2014, there

For more information, contact: Alberta Economic Development and Trade Phone: 780-427-6543 Fax: 780-427-0699 albertacanada.com international.alberta.ca