It has been a history-making week as British Columbia continues to deepen its relationship with China and the fast-growing economies of the Asia Pacific.

Throughout China, delegations representing British Columbia's mining, seafood and international-education sectors attended some of the year's most important trade shows and conferences to open and expand markets for the province's goods and services, one of the pillars of the BC Jobs Plan.

British Columbia's largest contingent ever of mining, investment and service companies took part in the China Mining Conference and Exhibition in Tianjin. A delegation of B.C. seafood companies attended the gateway event to the largest and fastest-growing seafood market in the world, the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo 2013 in Dalian. And schools from throughout British Columbia attended fairs in five cities as part of this year's China Education Expo. (See the attached Backgrounder for additional details and attendee lists.)

On Monday, British Columbia became the first foreign government to issue bonds into the Chinese Renminbi (CNH) market. The one-year-term bond raised approximately $428 million Canadian and is the largest CNH bond by a foreign issuer to date.

Minister of International Trade Teresa Wat delivered a keynote speech in front of a large crowd of decision-makers from Canada and China at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada's China Going Global Symposium on Monday. The symposium was co-hosted and attended by a delegation representing the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade led by Dr. Wei Zhang, the council's vice chairman, and included a seminar on the benefits of locating head offices in B.C.

China is identified as a priority market in the BC Jobs Plan, and it will be the first stop when Premier Christy Clark, Wat and the province's new Investment and Trade Commissioner, Ben Stewart, kick off this year's Jobs and Trade Mission. The Premier-led mission, which will advance liquefied natural gas development opportunities and promote the province as a stable and attractive destination for trade and investment, arrives in Beijing on Nov. 22.

On Nov. 28, when Premier Clark departs for the Republic of Korea, Wat will continue to focus on the China market, with a week of meetings and events in Tianjin, Shanghai, Urumqi, and Guangzhou before concluding her mission in Hong Kong on Dec. 4.

Quote:

Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism -

"We are building bridges and deepening relationships to increase trade and investment between British Columbia and China. With each inbound and outbound delegation and trade mission, we are forming the partnerships that will attract new investment and create and protect jobs for British Columbians."

Quick Facts - *All trade statistics for China include Hong Kong.

• China* is B.C.'s second-largest trade partner. In 2012, B.C.'s exports to China reached $5.9 billion, an increase of 18 per cent from 2011 - and a 495-per-cent increase since 2001.
• From January to August 2013, B.C.'s exports of mineral and coal products to China increased 24 per cent compared to the same period last year. Total goods exports from B.C. to China were up 16.3 per cent in the first eight months of 2013 compared to 2012.
• British Columbia has set new records for agriculture and seafood exports to China for the past three years. Seafood exports to China totalled $121 million in 2012, up 10.5 per cent over the previous year. The top products shipped from B.C. to China include chum salmon, hake, flounder, crabs, geoduck clams and herring.
• Chinese students represent the second-largest contingent of international students attending British Columbia educational institutions. International students contribute over $1.8 billion into the B.C. economy, generate $70 million in tax revenue and help create and sustain 22,000 jobs.
• Trade missions and delegations are supported by British Columbia's expanded network of international Trade and Investment Representative offices in China - Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
• This network of trade and investment experts abroad and here in B.C. has played a key role in facilitating and supporting over 145 inbound and outbound international missions involving B.C. companies and organizations in 2012-13.

Learn More:

Check out: www.BritishColumbia.ca - the Province's international-facing website to see what investors and decision makers in China see about our competitive advantages.

Learn more about the BC Jobs Plan at: www.bcjobsplan.ca

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of International Trade
Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism
778 977-0298

BACKGROUNDER

China Mining Conference and Exhibition
Tianjin, Nov. 2-5: http://www.china-mining.org/en/

It is one of the world's largest mineral investment, co-operation and trading platforms. It covers the whole value chain, including geological surveying, exploration development, mining rights trading, mining investment and financing, and more. In 2012, 429 exhibitors and 6,000 delegates from 57 countries took part.

Joining British Columbia's China-based Trade and Investment team at China Mining 2013 are:

• Brixton Metals
• CWA Engineers
• Dolley Varden Silver
• Down to Earth Mining
• Gold Reach Resources
• Hunter Dickinson Inc.
• Jing Capital
• Urban Select Capital
• Zimtu Capital
• British Columbia's Association for Mineral Exploration

Several British Columbia companies will extend their stay in Asia to join a delegation of Canadian companies participating in a series of Mineral Investment Forums, meeting investors in Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo before returning to Canada.

China Fisheries and Seafood Expo 2013
Dalian, Nov. 5-7: http://www.chinaseafoodexpo.com/

British Columbia secured a booth inside the Canada Pavilion to showcase the province's world-class seafood products to international visitors and help industry find strategic partners and buyers in Asia. With 2,300 booths, 900 companies and 17,000 visitors from 84 countries, the 18th annual China Fisheries and Seafood Expo is a gateway to the largest and fastest-growing seafood market in the world.

Joining British Columbia's China-based Trade and Investment team at CFSE 2013 are:

• Canadian Pacific Kazunoko Association
• Flying Fresh Air Freight: www.ffafcargo.com
• Grand Hale Marine Products Co., Ltd.: www.grandhale.com
• Lions Gate Fisheries Ltd. & Creative Salmon Ltd.: www.lgf.ca and: www.creativesalmon.com
• Mariner Seafoods International: www.marinerseafoodsint.com
• North Delta Seafoods Ltd.: www.ndseafoods.com
• Omega Pacific Hatchery Inc.: www.omegapacific.ca
• Pacific Rim Shellfish: http://www.lobsterman.com
• Providence Seafoods Inc.: www.providenceseafoods.ca
• Target Marine: http://www.northerndivine.com
• Worldwide Seafood: http://www.worldwideseafoods.ca/

China Education Expo 2013
Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Wuhan and Chengdu:http://www.bccie.bc.ca/market-support/cee2013

It is the premier annual international education marketing event in China, the world's largest recruitment market. The fair hosts 20 national pavilions including 587 overseas schools from 37 countries and regions, attracting around 66,000 visitors in five cities across China.

British Columbia's delegation is supported by the British Columbia Council for International Education (BCCIE) and the province's in-market Education Marketing Managers in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

BCCIE and these participating schools and institutions are participating in China Education Expo fairs:

Beijing

K-12

• Coquitlam School District

• Cowichan Valley School District

• Delta School District

• Langley School District

• Maple Leaf International Schools - China

• Mulgrave School

• Richmond School District

• School District 8 Kootenay Lake

• Vancouver School Board

Post-Secondary

• College of New Caledonia

• Royal Roads University

• Simon Fraser University

• Sprott Shaw Acsenda School of Management

• Thompson Rivers University

• Trinity Western University

• Vancouver Island University and High School

• Vancouver Film School

Language Schools

• Canadian College of English Language

• King George International College

Xi'an

K-12

• Coquitlam School District

• Peace River Secondary Schools

• Vancouver School Board

Post-Secondary

• Vancouver Film School

Shanghai

K-12

• Coquitlam School District

• Delta School District

• Fraser Valley Elementary School

• Maple Leaf International Schools - China

• School District 8 Kootenay Lake

• Willowbrook Montessori Daycare

Post-Secondary

• Simon Fraser University

Language Schools

• Language Studies International

Wuhan

K-12

• Coquitlam School District

• Langley School District

• Vancouver School Board

Chengdu

K-12

• Coquitlam School District

• School District 8 Kootenay Lake

• Vancouver School Board

Post-Secondary

• Vancouver Film School

• Vancouver Island University and High School

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of International Trade
Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism
778 977-0298