China Newsletter February Alberta China Office (ACO) - An Overseas Representative Office of the Alberta Government

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1 China Newsletter February 2009 Alberta China Office (ACO) - An Overseas Representative Office of the Alberta Government albertabeijing@international.gc.ca Fax: Website: The Spring Festival, a Chinese New Year, begins January 24, and most business and government offices will close for eight days. Note: The Alberta China Office in the embassy will be closed January only. Who Are We? The Alberta presence in Greater China is composed of four offices: Alberta China Office Canadian Embassy Beijing CNPC Alberta Petroleum Centre Alberta Hong Kong Office Alberta Taiwan Office Inside Articles: Hong Kong trade official meets with Alberta s Deputy Premier. Alberta s Deputy Premier meets with Canadian Consul General in Hong Kong Chief Executive of Macau SAR, Mr. Edmund Ho, meets with Alberta s Deputy Premier The International School in Macao Alberta Day in Shenzhen February 23-25,

2 Hong Kong trade official and Alberta Deputy Premier look at collaboration opportunities The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mrs Rita Lau, meets with Alberta Deputy Premier and Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr Ron Stevens. Mrs Lau and Mr Stevens discussed opportunities for collaboration in the areas of commerce and trade, and the innovation/creative industries. They also discussed other cultural and educational matters. Hong Kong and Alberta have established strong business and social ties over the years. This includes a number of memoranda of understanding and partnership programs between Alberta institutions and Hong Kong's Cyberport, Science Park and universities to help facilitate technology exchanges. Pictured are Mrs. Lau and Mr Stevens at the meeting in Hong Kong on January 5,

3 At the meeting with Mr. Stevens, Secretary Lau encouraged Alberta companies to take advantage of the CEPA (Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement) to gain better access to the Mainland market in different areas, including the mining sector. Click here to download a PDF format of this news release in Chinese. Alberta Deputy Premier meets with Canadian Consul General in Hong Kong On January 5, 2009, Minister Stevens met with Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong, Ms Doreen Steidle. Meeting discussions focused on enhancing the collaboration in trade and investment facilitation, science and technology development, and education and cultural promotions. It was agreed that a more innovative approach is required, to cope with a rapidly changing marketplace. Chief Executive of Macau SAR, Mr. Edmund Ho meets with Deputy Premier 3

4 Mr. Edmund Ho, Chief Executive of the Macau SAR Government met with Minister Stevens during his visit to Macao on January 6, The ministerial visit served to foster closer ties between Alberta and Macao. Alberta exports over C$22 million in beef each year to Macau. The International School of Macao is the first accredited out-of-province school with an Alberta curriculum. Both sides recognized the need to enhance co-operation and facilitate links in new initiatives. The International School in Macao uses the Alberta curriculum Minister Stevens visited the International School (TIS) in Macau on January 6, The year of the OX will mark the first graduating class for TIS. English is the primary language of instruction at the school, where students can earn an Alberta High School diploma. Established in 2002, TIS is an out-of province school accredited with Alberta curriculum. When it first opened, there were 58 students enrolled on the campus of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST). By 2006, the school had grown to over 500 students, and had received accreditation by the Government of Alberta. In 2006, TIS moved into the first phase of its new facility on the MUST campus. The second phase of the building will start in construction the next few years, to help keep pace with Macau's educational demands. Minister Stevens toured the facilities and stopped in several classrooms to meet with students and teachers. He was surprised to learn that over half of the TIS s 60 teachers are from Alberta, including Principal Real Hryhirchuk, who is from Vegreville. Principal Hryhirchuk stated he is proud that TIS not only teaches the Alberta curriculum, but fosters an environment in which students also learn about Alberta s vibrant multicultral mosaic. To learn more about TIS, visit their website at 4

5 Alberta Days in Shenzhen February 23-25, 2009 The Alberta International Offices in the Greater China area are organizing a promotional event in Shenzhen February 23-25, The Alberta Hong Kong Office is taking the lead role in the event, which will feature seminars, a networking luncheon, site tours and follow-up meetings. We believe this will be an excellent opportunity for Alberta companies to promote their products and services, and to establish business networks in the target area. Draft Program: Day 1 (Feb 23): Alberta Day in Shenzhen (2 seminar sessions, one networking opportunity) Day 2: Follow up meetings, tour and workshop in Shenzhen/Guangzhou Day 3: Follow up meetings, tour and workshop in Shenzhen/Guangzhou The objective of the event is to promote Alberta in Shenzhen and facilitate the business initiatives of Alberta companies in the areas of technology development and commercialization, R&D collaboration, and export sales. Of particular interest, are the green building products and services industry, and the area of e-home/e-health. The promotion will include seminar/workshop sessions - one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and a lunch hour networking event. As the attached profile of Shenzhen indicates, the municipality will engage the development of technology as an impetus for further growth and sustained development. Co-operation between Alberta and Shenzhen will offer opportunities for Alberta companies to tap into the vast market of Shenzhen and other parts of China, engage the technological expertise, and deploy the strong manufacturing capabilities in the Pearl River Delta. Alberta and Shenzhen are already partnering successfully to deliver a low cost, remote health solution for rural China, which is delivered though the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT). The SIAT is administered under the China Academy of Sciences in China. For further details, please contact Christopher Liu. 5

6 The Municipality of Shenzhen, China Shenzhen is a coastal city, close to Hong Kong in South China. The city is in the south of Guangdong Province, and separated from Hong Kong by Shenzhen River. The city has a mild, subtropical maritime climate with plenty of rain and sunshine. The annual average temperature is 22.4 C. Annual precipitation is at 1,933.3 mm. As many as 355 days per year are frost-free. Shenzhen is also China's first Special Economic Zone (SEZ), established in For further details about Shenzhen, visit and click the Events Calendar. 6