Canada and China should enhance cooperation in transportation to cement trade ties between the two sides, Canadian Minister of Transport Jean C. Lapierre said in Shanghai on September 5.

Lapierre said in his keynote speech at a business luncheon hosted by the Canada-China Business Council that both Canada and China have overcome their domestic vast distances and challenging geography to develop an efficient and reliable transportation system to move people and goods.

"In order to achieve further development of economic ties between Canada and China, the two sides should further improve their transportation systems and make more cooperation in this field," he said.

China and Canada have witnessed in recent years fast development of trade relations. China has become Canada's second largest trade partner and fourth largest export market, with bilateral trade volume reaching 30.7 billion Canadian dollars in 2004.

"We must do more to increase our dynamic trade and investment relations," Lapierre said, hoping that the two countries would provide the best environment for both economies to grow. "We must ensure our transportation systems are up to the challenges," he said.

This visit is an excellent opportunity to discuss the approaches to air, marine and joint transportation and encourage bilateral exchanges in transportation, Lapierre said.

Lapierre is accompanied by a business delegation including more than 30 senior executives representing Canadian airports, passenger and cargo airlines, ports, railways and transportation-related associations.

"It shows that not only the government of Canada is committed to trade with China, but our private sector is as well," said Lapierre, noting that Canada is ready to promote cooperation with China in various fields.

Before coming to Shanghai, Lapierre held meetings with officials with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China on air transportation, and attended the Canada-China Aviation Symposium in Beijing. He will also visit Hong Kong.

Source: Xinhua