Traditional Chinese lion dance during the openning of the spring festival reception at Hyatt Hotel in downtown Vancouver on February 6th.

The Consulate General of China in Vancouver hosted a grand Spring Festival reception at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Vancouver on Feb 6.

Nearly 1,000 guests attended, including Alice Wong, minister of state for seniors; Teresa Wat, BC minister of international trade, and minister for the Asia Pacific strategy and multiculturalism; Suzanne Anton, minister of justice and attorney general of British Columbia; Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie; Richard T. Lee and Jenny Wai Ching Kwan, members of the BC Legislative Assembly; Vancouver councilors Raymond Louie and Andrea Reimer; James Z. Wang, Burnaby councilor; Chak Kwong Au, Richmond councilor and other dignitaries and representatives from Chinese-funded institutions, Chinese associations and international student communities.

A traditional Chinese lion dance and the beating of gongs and drums provided a prelude to the event. Alice Wong and Teresa Wat gave speeches.

Liu Fei gave a speech affirming the cooperation between China and Canada.

In 2014, the Chinese and Canadian government released a joint list of outcomes that covered cooperation agreements valued at more than $2.5 billion. The Bank of China and HSBC were authorized to sell RMB 3 billion in offshore bonds by the government of British Columbia. The Bank of China set up an International Business Center in Vancouver and GF securities opened a branch in Vancouver.

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Canada increased by 20 percent. Simon Fraser University and Chinese Zhejiang University established double bachelor’s degrees in computer engineering. Simon Fraser and Communication University of China cooperated on a dual master’s degree program in global communications. Beijing Tong Ren Tang (Canada) established a third branch.

Liu said that “in 2014, the strategic partnership between China and Canada was further developed”. Liu also announced that 2015-2016 would be the Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges between Canada and China. Cherries and blueberries from British Columbia would be exported to China.

At the end of the reception, Liu offered her New Year’s blessings to the audience: “The Chinese New Year of the Ram starts Feb 19. Wishing all of you good luck and happiness.”