On December 17, 2012, CCCICA representative Christine attended the New Year’s reception hosted by MP Wai Young and Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway in Vancouver.

At the Reception, Wai Young concluded a summary on what it had gone over the past year, and displayed self- confidence in the future by continuing to work hard in return for all those people backing her up.

She introduced Honorable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway to guests present there in a humorous tone by talking about Mr. Fast’s recent visit to Asia with fruitful achievements at a very fast speed.

As the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Ed Fast briefly reviewed on his recent visit to the Asia-Pacific region, not only with China,which is one of Canada’s largest trading partner in the world, but also with Thailand reaching a strategic cooperation agreement, while in the Asia-Pacific region, economic stability, fewer trade barriers have attributed to the significant progress in international cooperation with Canada. Ed Fast particularly referred to China as the second largest trading partner (after the United States), the second-largest source of imports and the third largest export market. Two-way investment between the two countries is booming. He also mentioned that the initiative in-depth talk with Chen Deming, Minister of Commerce of China, who ever paid a visit to Vancouver in September of 2012, regarding two-way investment, financial cooperation, agricultural market access, had achieved inspiring results.

At the Reception, some of local entrepreneurs expressed their concerns on the issue of CNOOC acquisition Nixon, saying that most of the Canadian people are opposed to this kind of resource acquisition. Mr. Fast explained that this had been a win-win decision which would exert a positive influence on Canada’s economic development and also a concrete move of Minister Harper’s visit to China in 2012.

More importantly, regardless of which country the acquirers are from, they will comply with Canadian laws and industry regulations to accept the supervision of the compliance business just like other local enterprises, we have no reason to jump to the conclusion that they will be free to act recklessly before any illegal actions show up. From this perspective, we believe that this is the right decision for the Canadian people.

When asked about his opinions about ILO sue on importing temporary Chinese miners to Canadian BC province, he pointed out that workers’ technology standards ,no matter native or from abroad, must be in accordance with the coal mining industry operating requirements here. In addition, according to the Foreign Labor policy, qualified local miners can apply for jobs as well and recruitment should be open to the public.