Premier Welcomes Chinese Ambassador to Canada

Premier Stephen McNeil met with Lu Shaye, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Canada, in Halifax today, Nov. 7.

"I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Ambassador Lu. China is our fastest growing trading partner and we want to continue building our relationship,” said Premier McNeil. "With increased trading opportunities, we will have a stronger economy and create more jobs for Nova Scotians.”

Discussions focused on a range of areas of mutual interest, including tourism, education, oceans, transportation, seafood and agri-food, and energy and resource sectors.

Premier McNeil and Ambassador Lu also discussed recent friendship agreements between Nova Scotia and the Chinese provinces of Shandong and Guangdong.

“These agreements show our commitment to building on our trading relationship,” said Premier McNeil.

China is Nova Scotia’s second largest trading partner. Exports from Nova Scotia to China totalled $495 million in 2016, an increase of 17 per cent from 2015. Seafood exports to China were valued at $255 million in 2016, making it Nova Scotia's second largest seafood export market.

In April 2016 the province launched a Nova Scotia-China Engagement Strategy to capitalize on opportunities for growth in the Chinese market.