The first weekend of Premier Christy Clark's 2013 Jobs and Trade Mission was highlighted by a new natural gas venture establishing a Vancouver head office and Bluestar International Business signing an $80-million forestry deal that will see B.C. lumber used for infrastructure projects in China.

After arriving in Beijing on Friday, Premier Clark and Minister of International Trade Teresa Wat travelled to Nantong and toured the Jiangsu Rudong liquefied natural gas facility on Saturday, getting a first-hand look at a gasification plant capable of handling British Columbia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.

"This facility is ready to receive B.C. natural gas and this is another sign that we need to deepen our relationship with China to increase trade and develop a brand new industry," Premier Clark said. "LNG isn't just a northern industry, but will create opportunities and jobs around the province - from direct jobs to support services to head offices. We are here to make sure that businesses and communities across B.C. benefit."

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Back in British Columbia, a new LNG project with links to the Rudong operation has put down roots in Vancouver. Woodfibre Natural Gas Limited, a newly formed Canadian company, together with Pacific Oil and Gas Limited, RGE's energy company, is in the early stages of developing Woodfibre LNG, a natural gas liquefaction and export project near Squamish. Woodfibre LNG has now officially established its headquarters in Vancouver.

"Our expanded international trade and investment network and trade missions allow us to get in front of investors and promote British Columbia as an attractive destination for investment and for Asian companies looking to locate head offices for their North American operations," said Wat, Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism.

Pacific Oil and Gas is a partner in the Rudong LNG facility, and RGE, headquartered in Singapore, manages various companies focused on resource-based manufacturing industries. It has assets exceeding US$15 billion and employs over 50,000 people worldwide.

"Our goal is to develop a project that provides sustained economic growth while continuing to support the work that has been done to improve Howe Sound over the past few years," said Byng Giraud, vice president of corporate affairs, Woodfibre LNG. "Having our head office in Vancouver and eventually setting up another office in Squamish will allow us to work closely with prospective partners, service providers, the community and First Nations while also being ideally situated to connect with investment partners in Asia and around the world."

On Sunday, Burnaby-based Bluestar International Business announced that it has signed a deal with Sichuan Xilin IM/EX Co. Ltd. to provide B.C. lumber for housing and infrastructure projects in China's Sichuan province and surrounding areas.

"As a British Columbia company with operations in China, we are very excited to sign this agreement to purchase lumber from mills in B.C.," William Qu, president of Bluestar International Business, said. "As the sole buyer for this deal, we can work with the forest product companies in B.C. to ensure this lumber reaches China and grows the market for B.C. wood."

The US$80 million contract is for processed lumber that will be used for railway, infrastructure, and residential construction, with Sichuan real estate developers promoting the use of the wood as a unique selling point to Chinese homebuyers.

"Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson was recently in China to promote B.C. lumber and Premier Clark has made several trips to encourage business in China to use British Columbia's wood products," said Zeng Aiguo, president of Sichuan Xilin IM/EX CO., Ltd. "We are proud to use B.C. wood, some of the world's best."

The news came as Premier Clark and Minister Wat led the mission from Nantong to Chengdu to make the business case for the resource development and investment that will lead to economic activity throughout British Columbia. This marks the first official visit to Chengdu, a fast-growing city at the heart of Sichuan Province.

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On Monday, Premier Clark and the B.C. trade mission will again break new ground with an official visit to Chongqing. The city, which sits at the centre of a western China region with a population of 30 million people, has a large industrial area and a rapidly developing urban core. This year's Jobs and Trade Mission is building and deepening relationships in the regions and cities that are driving economic growth in China.

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Quick Facts:

• Located at the Port of Yangkou in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, the Rudong LNG terminal is PetroChina's first and China's fourth LNG terminal project.
• Bluestar International's new contract to supply lumber to China continues the momentum created by an increased focus on diversifying international markets for B.C. forestry products.
• From January to September, exports of B.C. wood products to China, including Hong Kong, have increased 38 per cent compared to the same period last year - and 2,106 per cent compared to 2003.
• The 2013 Jobs and Trade Mission is being supported by British Columbia's international trade and investment network throughout Asia. B.C. has trade and investment offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong in China.

Learn More:

The BC Newsroom has live updates from #TM13 here: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/10/growing-markets-in-asia-and-promoting-investment-in-british-columbia---trade-missions.html.

You can also follow the 2013 trade mission using www.BritishColumbia.ca, the Province's international-facing website, its Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/BCTradeInvest and on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/trade-&-invest-british-columbia.

Contact:

Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252

Blair Phelps
Communications Director
Ministry of International Trade and Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism
250 356-7104