China - 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 DID YOU KNOW? destination. Approximately 47 per cent were economic immigrants, including principal Capital: Beijing . The Chinese have one of the world’s oldest applicants, spouses, and dependents. continuous civilizations, spanning some five Population: 1.38 billion (2016) thousand years. TRADE AND INVESTMENT Language: Standard Chinese, based on northern Chinese (the Beijing dialect known as . In 2010, China hosted the World Expo in . China is Alberta’s second largest trading Mandarin) Shanghai. In August 2008, China hosted the partner. This trading relationship has more Summer Olympics in Beijing. In 2022, China than tripled since 2003. From 2016 to 2017, Government: One-party rule by Chinese Communist Party will host the Winter Olympics. Alberta’s exports to China grew by 26.4 per cent. Head of State: President XI Jinping (since RELATIONSHIP OVERVIEW March 2013) . From 2013-2017, Alberta’s annual exports to . Alberta has had a sister province relationship China averaged $3.29 billion and included Head of Government: Premier LI Keqiang with the northeastern Chinese province of (since March 2013) acyclic alcohol, canola seed and oil, Heilongjiang since 1981. On April 24, 2017, woodpulp, wheat, barley, crude oil and hides Currency: CAD $1 = 5.21 Yuan Renminbi Alberta also established a sister province and skins. (2017 average) relationship with Guangdong province. GDP: CAD $14,043.9 billion (2015) . From 2013-2017, Alberta’s direct imports . Edmonton is twinned with Harbin, from China averaged $2.85 billion and GDP (PPP): US $21.3 trillion (2016) Heilongjiang’s capital city. Calgary is twinned included machinery, computer components, with Daqing in Heilongjiang province. GDP Per Capita (PPP): US $15,400 (2016) iron pipes and tubes, and a variety of consumer products. This figure does not . In the 1980s, the Alberta-China economic GDP Growth rate: 6.7 per cent (2016) include goods sold in Alberta that arrived via relationship expanded to include the sale of distribution hubs in other provinces. Inflation: 2.0 per cent (2016) oil and gas equipment and services and a Key Industry Sectors: Mining and ore number of non-grain agricultural products. ENERGY processing; iron, steel, aluminum and other metals; coal; machine building; armaments; . The China National Petroleum Corporation . China has been the world’s largest energy textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; (CNPC)-Alberta Petroleum Centre (CAPC) in consumer since 2011. China’s energy chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products, Beijing, which has been in operation since consumption has grown from 680 million including footwear, toys and electronics; food 1989, promotes petroleum technology tonnes oil equivalent in 1990 to 2,993 million processing; transportation equipment, including transfers, provides management and tonnes in 2015. automobiles, rail cars and locomotives, ships technical training and fosters trade between and aircraft; telecommunications equipment, . China became a net importer of crude oil in commercial space launch vehicles and China and Alberta. 1996 and surpassed the United States to satellites. become the world’s largest importer of crude . Between 2013 and 2017, 10,440 citizens of oil in September 2013. Sources: Bank of Canada, Economy Watch, China became Permanent Residents of Global Affairs Canada . BP projects that by 2020, China’s energy Canada, with Alberta as their intended demand will reach 3,463 million tonnes oil December 2018 | Compiled by Alberta Economic Development and Trade with input from Alberta Ministries of: Agriculture and Forestry; Education; Energy; Culture and Tourism; Labour; Advanced Education

equivalent, narrowly trailing the combined 2014 between the First Nation and Brion partnership resulted in the very first “Alberta United States and the European Union. Energy Corp., which included business Cup” Furniture Creative Student Design opportunities for the band and a financial Competition Award for interior designs using . In April 2017, Alberta signed an agreement payment. with China’s National Development and Alberta wood products. Over 750 designs Reform Commission – Energy Research . In 2012, TransCanada announced a $3 billion were submitted in 2017. Institute for collaboration in sectors related to joint venture with Phoenix Energy Holdings sustainable energy development, renewable Limited (PetroChina’s upstream division in . The Governor General of Canada, David energy development, energy efficiency and Canada) for a 500 km pipeline between Johnston visited China in July 2017 to present climate change research and policy CNPC’s Fort McMurray operations and the a Governor General Medallion to Mr. Ding development. Edmonton/Heartland region. Hongmin, Chairman of Dehua Group / Tubao . Natural gas consumption increased by 13.9 . In March 2012, PetroChina agreed to pay for their collaboration with Alberta Innovates per cent year-on-year in 2013, making China Encana $1.8 billion for a 49.9 per cent stake in and Norbord to commercialize Alberta-made the world’s third-largest gas user. Natural gas the company’s Duvernay assets and put an OSB products for non-construction imports increased by 14 per cent at 53 billion additional $1 billion into the project. applications in China. cubic meters of natural gas and accounting for . China is the world's largest consumer, 31.6 per cent of the country’s total gas TOURISM consumption. producer and importer of coal. More than half the coal produced in the world is consumed in . China is reported to have significant shale gas China. . 2018 has been officially designated by the potential - as much as 1115 Tcf of recoverable governments of Canada and China have as resources. This potential supply of natural gas . Coal made up over 64 per cent of China's total the Canada-China Year of Tourism. and oil lies within seven major basins located energy consumption in 2014 and China is throughout the country. The basins that have aiming to cap this at 62 per cent by 2020. . In 2010, Canada received “Approved the greatest potential are the Tarim Basin, far . China has led global investment in alternative Destination Status” (ADS) from the in the northwest, and the Sichuan Basin energy projects since 2010 and China is the Government of China, making it easier for located in central China. To date, most shale world’s largest producer of solar and wind Chinese citizens to visit Canada and for the gas exploration has been focused in the power. Sichuan Basin, in part due to the geological Canadian tourism industry to promote Canada setting and, more importantly, the proximity to FORESTRY to China. market. . China is Alberta’s third largest lumber market . In 2016, Alberta received 135,000 overnight . China is expected to add 5.6 million bpd and second largest pulp market, accounting person-visits from China accounting for $136 refining capacity by 2040 to the already million in tourism expenditures. existing 11.6 million bpd as well as increase for 19 per cent of Alberta’s total export market refinery runs from 9.4 million bpd in 2013, to with shipments valued at C$559 million in . In June 2016 Hainan Airlines started a direct 12.1 million bpd in 2020, and 14.6 million bpd 2017, an increase of 14 per cent from 2016. in 2040. non-stop flight from Beijing to Calgary. . To create commercial opportunities for lumber, . China’s top three oil companies have Forestry Division and Canada Wood is . According to the World Tourism Organization, established offices in Calgary: China promoting the benefits of Canadian forest China will become one of the top three Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec outbound tourism markets in the world by Corp.), China National Offshore Oil products through an integrated marketing 2020, producing some 100 million outbound Corporation (CNOOC) and China's largest oil campaign, providing technical support on and gas producer and supplier, China National building codes and product standards, and tourists annually. Petroleum Corporation (CNPC; PetroChina). delivering educational programs targeting . Travel Alberta maintains a tourism marketing practitioners and university students to help . PetroChina-owned, Calgary-based Brion office in Beijing. Energy plans to produce 400,000 barrels per build China’s capacity for wood construction. day from its MacKay River and Dover oil sands SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY assets by 2025. . Alberta Forestry Division formed a strategic partnership with Nanjing Forestry University, . China is an emerging science and technology . The Fort McKay First Nation pursued legal College of Furniture Industry in 2014 to action regarding potential effects of the Dover market for Alberta. Alberta and China have Project on traditional land use activities in the promote the use of Alberta’s Oriented Strand several science and technology agreements area, but a new agreement was reached in Board (OSB) and lumber in China. The designed to enhance research and

development co-operation in the areas of (includes 3 in Alberta) approved to process China (2011), which guides and encourages information and communications technology, alfalfa and timothy hay for export to China until engagement of local school jurisdictions with life sciences, environmental technologies, 2022. counterparts in China. advanced materials, energy-related . In November 2017 China approved access for . In 2008, the Chinese Language Council technologies and hi-tech agriculture. bone-in beef from Canada which had International (Hanban) opened a Confucius previously been banned following the first case . In 2017, the Alberta Aspen Innovation Center Institute in Edmonton. was established in Nanjing, as a partnership of BSE between Alberta Innovates and Nanjing . In November 2016 the Minister of Agriculture . Established in 1982, Alberta’s English-Chinese Forestry University. The Center aims to and Forestry led a mission to China to profile (Mandarin) bilingual program was the first in provide Alberta and China with a new platform and advocate Alberta as a preferred supplier North America. It currently has approximately of international collaboration in technological of agriculture and agri-food products as well as 2,400 students enrolled in the Chinese innovations of wood processing and furniture to promote market diversification within bilingual program in two school authorities and manufacturing. Nanjing Forestry University is Alberta’s forestry sector. 4,000 students are enrolled in Chinese in technology development partnership with language and culture courses in 16 school . On September 23, 2016, Prime Minister authorities across the province. over 200 companies in the forestry industry Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang which will offer commercialization channels for signed an MOU that will allow for the . Many of Alberta’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 Alberta aspen products. Alberta Innovates also continuation of canola shipments from Canada (K-12) schools have twinning relationships signed an MOU with Nanjing Forestry under the previous inspection standards until with their respective counterparts in China. University at this time. the year 2020. . China is the top source country and fastest . An agreement between China’s State Key . During Premier LI’s visit to Canada, the two growing for international students entering Labs and the University of Alberta (UAlberta) countries also agreed to restart trade in bovine Alberta’s K-12 system. It currently represents has facilitated co-operation in nano-technology genetics, and China agreed to grant access for 35 per cent of international students attending research; sustainable environmental frozen, bone-in beef from cattle under thirty K-12 schools in Alberta. technology and development; and joint months of age. research in health, energy, the environment, . In 2013, Alberta renewed a five-year . Six schools across China have received Tier 3 and information and communication agreement with China’s Ministry of Agriculture accreditation status by Alberta Education. The technology. to strengthen and expand the scope of co- International School of Macao has achieved Tier 4 status, the highest accreditation status a . In January 2014, Alberta Innovation and operation in the agricultural sector. school can receive. These international Advanced Education renewed its MOU . In February 2012, China agreed to resume schools deliver Alberta’s K-12 curriculum agreements with the Department of Science imports of Canadian bovine tallow. (programs of study, assessments, and and Technology, Zhejiang Province and the . The agri-food sector is a major focus for learning and teaching resources) through Science and Technology Commission of Alberta’s market development initiatives in Alberta certificated teachers, and provide their Shanghai Municipality to facilitate collaboration China. Opportunities exist in agricultural students with the opportunity to graduate with in industrial research and development. consulting services, food safety technology, an Alberta high school credential. . From 2010-2015, Alberta had an agreement livestock genetics, seeds and forage products, . Alberta Education has had a Memorandum of with China’s Ministry of Science and grains and oilseeds, raw hides and skins, Understanding (MOU) with China since 2004. Technology to encourage scientific and equipment, high quality beef, processed The MOU supports the posting of a Special technological co-operation and research canola and other food products. Advisor of Chinese Language and Culture to exchange. EDUCATION Alberta Education. This posting is one of only AGRICULTURE four in the world. . The China-Alberta Award for Excellence in

Chinese, collaborative scholarship program . China is Alberta's second largest market for . Funded by Alberta Education, there is supported by the Education Office of the agri-food exports, valued at $1.984 billion in currently a designated Education Officer Consulate-General of The People’s Republic 2017 (an increase of 44 per cent from 2016). posted at the Alberta-Beijing Office that of China in Vancouver and Alberta Education, In 2016, Canada’s agri-food exports to China supports Alberta’s interest in all levels of was created in 2013 to facilitate Chinese were valued at approximately $7 billion. education. Alberta accounted for 28 per cent of this total. language and culture promotion in Alberta. . Advanced Education supports several . Top Alberta agri-food exports in 2017 included . In August 2018, 20 Alberta students from programs enabling post-secondary institutions canola seed ($808 million), canola oil ($465 across the province attended a 10 day to develop study and research collaboration million), raw hides and skins ($163 million), summer camp in Qingdao and Beijing, China. involving China including Campus Alberta beef ($74 million), barley ($133 million), and Students participated in cultural classes, Grant for International Learning (CAGFIL) and wheat ($73 million). China is Alberta's top exchanges with Chinese students, went MITACS Globalink. CAGFIL supports Alberta export market for canola seed, canola oil, raw sightseeing and visited with Chinese families. students to study in China, while Globalink hides and skins, and barley. . In August 2014, 18 students (ages 14-18) from provides scholarships for undergraduate . Alberta Agriculture and Forestry leads several China participated in the Student Summer Chinese students to pursue research in trade missions to China every year for the Camp in Alberta. This 10-day summer camp Alberta during the summer. benefit pf Alberta’s agri-food exporters gave Chinese students the opportunity to learn including participation in major food industry . Advanced Education, Economic Development English, take part in sports, recreational and shows such as SIAL China in May and Food and Trade, a number of Alberta post- cultural attractions, site-seeing, and learning and Hospitality China in November secondary institutions, health-related about Alberta and Canadian culture. professional associations and Alberta health- . In June 2018 China’s General Administration related industries have been developing of China Customs (GACC) extended the . Alberta’s close educational relations with relations and advancing cooperation in health registration for all Canadian companies China have resulted in the development of Alberta Education’s Strategic Framework with education-training, research and health

industry opportunities since 2012 with the establishing the Joint Research Centre of Global Voice program, including 4 professors Guanghua International Education Future Energy and Environment with Tsinghua from Chongquing University. A visiting Association. University; Joint Institute of Advanced Science Professfor from the Central Conservatory, and Technology with East China Normal Beighin,met with MRU instructors and students . Between 2013 and 2017, 12,131 citizens of University; the Food for Health Joint Research and performed at the Taylor Centre in August. China had international study permits come Centre with Zhejiang University; development The conservatory has partnerships with the into effect for Alberta. of a rehabilitation medicine curriculum and Beijing, Shanghai and Sichuan Conservatories . Each year, the Chinese government provides online training program in China; short-term and is exploring partnerships with an Early five full and ten partial scholarships enabling programs at UAlberta in various fields, from Childhood Education group in Chongqing and residents of Alberta to study in China. agriculture to medicine to sports; offering Tanjin. UAlberta's Master of Financial Management . Concordia University of Edmonton has . Since 2007, Alberta teachers and education program in China; and faculty-led programs in partnerships with Capital Normal University, administrators have participated in study tours China for students to learn about the country and Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing; in China. and its language. Foshan University; Qilu Normal University, . Alberta’s post-secondary institutions are . The China Institute at the University of Alberta Jinan and Southwest University, Chongqing. In engaged in a wide range of formal is dedicated to enhancing outstanding China- September 2016 Concordia University of relationships with Chinese post-secondary related teaching, research initiatives, and Edmonton launched Centre for Chinese institutions and companies, and collectively interdisciplinary collaboration. Studies that offers Mandarin classes and have over 60 formal ongoing agreements that courses about contemporary China. Concordia range in scope from student exchanges and . UAlberta is home to the Mactaggart Collection also launched double degree in Management study tours, to research and articulation of rare works of art from ancient and modern with Beijing Foreign Studies University where agreements, to delivery of off-shore education East Asia, valued at $37 million in 2005 when first and last year is offered in Edmonton and and custom training. it was donated to the university by the second and third in China while receiving 2 Mactaggarts. degrees. . The University of Calgary (U of C) partnered . MacEwan University has placed over 200 with the Kerui Group, an oil and gas service . In April 2017 during Premier Notley's visit to practicum students in China since 1998 from company, to establish a collaborative energy China, UAlberta signed an agreement with the Asia-Pacific Management diploma. research, education and training site in Beijing Tsinghua University, one of China's top universities, to establish the Joint Research in 2014. This “Global Research Initiative in . MacEwan University has partnerships with 12 Centre for Future Energy and the Unconventional Hydrocarbon Resources - Chinese universities and these relationships Environment. Collaboration on this new centre Beijing Site” is the first such facility in China for have facilitated student exchanges, an annual is underway through joint research projects a university anywhere in the world. study tour for students to China (since 2008), and workshops involving dozens of and a faculty study tour offered a faculty researchers. . The U of C has over 82 agreements (with 20+ member study tour to China in 2015, providing pending) with Chinese universities, authorities the opportunity to visit more than 12 and corporations. As of 2018, 20 articulation  UAlberta is the founder and Canadian lead for the Canada Learning Initiative in China (CLIC), institutions to explore research opportunities agreements with 12 universities were signed, and other areas of collaboration. allowing students to earn undergraduate dual a unique bi-national program for Canadian students from member universities to study in degrees or combined undergraduate and . Mount Royal University has a recently masters’ degrees. China with support from their home established partnership with Zhejiang Police universities and the Chinese Ministry of Academy, as well as a partnership with the . NAIT has been involved in program linkages Education. Since the program was launched in Inner Mongolia Department of Education, involving dual diplomas/degrees in Harbin, 2016, close to 400 students from Canada have Hohhot (2007) for summer language and Tianjin and Xinxiang and short-term training in taken part. culture studies. The Mount Royal Conservatory has partnerships with the Guangxi, Inner Mongolia and Guangdong . Since 2012, over 600 administrators from Beijing, Shanghai and Sichuan provinces as well as building relationships to about 200 different Chinese universities have Conservatories. support off-shore delivery and customized completed the Global Academic Leadership training with colleges, universities and . In February 2017, senior educational leaders Development (GALD) program at UAlberta. polytechnics. from several international high school systems The 3-month program exposes the participants visited MRU. In March 2017, members of MRU . UAlberta has very close ties with China in joint to university administrative practices in Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension education and research projects as well as Canada and engages them in cross-cultural visited schools and Conservatories in China and Hong Kong to build new relationships. student mobility. UAlberta has over 150 exploration of innovative higher education collaborative agreements with China and an management. . In September 2015, senior educational leaders active Association of Chinese Canadian . 16 Mount Royal University students from several technical and vocational Professors with over 130 members. Chinese participated in a Comparative Criminal Justice institutions across China visited Bow Valley students represent the largest group of Systems field school in May. Students had the College, Olds College and SAIT as international students at the university. opportunity to spend one week collaborating participants through the Vocational Education with faculty and students at the Zhejiang Leadership Training (VELT) program. VELT is . Cooperative projects between UAlberta and Police Academy in Hangzhou, followed by a a five-year partnership that allows Colleges Chinese institutions include: the Joint comparative justice study tour to Beijing and and Institutes Canada (CICan) and a major Research Labs program with the Chinese Shanghai. MRU continues to collaborate on Chinese international educational association Ministry of Science and Technology to support summer programming with the with the Inner to work together to support China’s reform of collaboration between UAlberta and Chinese Mongolia Department of Education, Hohhot its Institute of Technology system. State Key Laboratories or National (2007) for summer language and culture Laboratories; providing education and training . Athabasca University has signed a MOU with studies. The Mount Royal Conservatory to students, scholars, and administrators Beijing Normal University for academic and hosted 15 students for the the 2018 Summer sponsored by the China Scholarship Council; research partnership, and over 15 faculty and

research student exchanges have taken place focused business development initiatives in during 2010-2015 under the auspices of Alberta’s history, and Minister was joined by Athabasca University's NSERC Industrial 86 Alberta companies, municipalities, Research Chair in Adaptivity and universities and associations on the mission. Personalization in Informatics. . March 2016: The Minister of Economic . Concordia University of Edmonton has Development and Trade led a joint industry- partnerships with Capital Normal University, government delegation to Hong Kong, Beijing; Foshan University; Shenzhen Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing, University and Qilu Normal University, Jinan. with the aim of building business relationships through new trade and investment CULTURE partnerships. While in Guangzhou, Minister opened Alberta’s new international office. He . The Alberta Ballet, Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, Calgary’s Barrage musical also signed an MOU with the Shanghai ensemble, and the Morningside Program of Municipal Commission of Commerce. Mount Royal College have participated in touring performances in China. The Alberta . October 2015: The Minister of Energy led a Ballet and Shumka toured China in fall 2011. joint industry-government delegation to COMMUNITY Shanghai and Beijing to deepen energy relationships with Chinese government and . Approximately 137,000 Albertans are of industry decision makers. Outcomes of the Chinese descent. mission included an expanded mandate for the . The Government of Alberta has contributed 26-year-old CAPC, a deepened understanding matching grants to Alberta organizations for of the shared challenges currently faced by projects in China that have focused on Chinese and Canadian companies in Alberta’s children, education, health and the energy sector, and a reinforced China-Alberta environment. energy relationship with clear support from Alberta’s government. This mission also . CKER-FM broadcasts across Alberta in many assisted Alberta industry players in different languages with daily programming in establishing relationships with senior decision both Mandarin and Cantonese. makers, investors and manufacturers in China.

RECENT VISITS DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION . The Chinese Ambassador to Canada in . April 2018: The Minister of Economic Ottawa is His Excellency Mr. LU Shaye. Development and Trade travelled to China to participate in new trade and investment . The Chinese Consul General in Calgary is Ms. partnerships and initiatives in key Alberta LU Xu. sectors, as well as sign an important MOU with the Hubei Department of Commerce on . Canada’s Ambassador to China based in expanding cooperation in the energy, clean Beijing is Mr. John McCallum. technology and environment sectors. . Alberta has three representative offices in . September 2017: The Minister of Energy mainland China, which are in Beijing travelled to China to provide updates on the (established 1999 and co-located with the government’s work to get Alberta’s resources Canadian Embassy), Shanghai (established to Asian markets. She also met with 2010), and Guangzhou (established in 2016). companies working in areas of energy efficiency and renewable power to highlight investment opportunities in Alberta.

. April 2017: The Premier of Alberta travelled to China to sign an agreement with China’s National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) – Energy Research Institute (ERI), as well as a new sister province agreement with Guangdong province. The Premier also attended the first ever China-Alberta Energy and Climate Change Roundtable.

. November 2016: The Minister of Economic Development led a business-focused mission to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Yantai. This was one of the largest market-

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