July
19, 2000
Queen's
Landing, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Ladies
and gentlemen,
It's
a great pleasure for my delegation and I
to attend this dinner reception. On behalf
of Guangxi People's Government, I would like
to extend my sincere regards to all the friends
present and my heartfelt gratitude to those
who have made their contribution to promote
the economic and trade relationship between
Guangxi and Canada.
Situated
in South of China, Guangxi is a minority
nationality autonomous region inhabited by
multi-nationalities. Facing Beibu Bay and
Southeast Asia and with Guangdong province
to the East, it's connected through Xijiang
river system with Hong Kong and Macao. It
borders with Vietnam on the Southwest, to
its North, lies the inland provinces of Hunan,
Yunan, Guizhou with a population of 200 million.
Guangxi
serves as the transportation hub of South
China and Southwest China, which provides
a most convenient gateway to sea and the
Southeast Asia. Guangxi is rich in natural
and labor resources and has great potential
for development. Varieties of high-quality
fruits, agricultural and forestry products
ranks top in China. It's honored as the hometown
of non-ferrous metals and has abundant mineral
reserves such as aluminum, tin, zinc and
manganese. As the third biggest hydroelectric
power construction site in China, Longtan,
the second largest hydropower station in
China will be constructed in Guangxi. The
tourism resources are abundant in Guangxi,
Guilin is a charming pearl in world tourism
which is famous for its scenery of mountains
and water and has hosted many Presidents
and State heads from other countries. The
Silver Beach of Beihai, a state holiday resort
also has great potential for exploration.
Guangxi also attracts a large number of Chinese
and foreign tourists with its typical national
customs and special borderline scenery.
During
the past five decades, especially since the
implementation of the opening up policies,
Guangxi has focused more on its infrastructure
development; it has maintained the growth
rate above the national average level. The
opening Guangxi with its special geographical
advantages, broad marketing prospect and
favorable policies has attracted more and
more attention of the investors and entrepreneurs
home and abroad. Up to the present, there
are 3018 foreign funded enterprises established
in Guangxi. The foreign capitals utilization
exceeds 10 billion USD by the end of 1999.
We have successfully established trade links
with 130 countries and regions over the world.
Guangxi
has also developed good co-operation relationship
with Canada. The Canadian entrepreneurs have
constantly invested in Guangxi and promote
the mutual trade and economic relationship.
The contractual investment between us reached
100 million USD by the end of last year.
We have 62 established co-operation projects.
The annual trade value exceeds 15 million
USD over the last few years as well. We have
achived a good beginning despite the figure
is not large. A 20-member PBB trade mission
led by Mr. Scott has visited Guangxi in this
March. They have conducted business discussion
with over 60 Guangxi companies and enterprises
in the areas of agro-process, environment
protection, Internet commerce and tourism
etc. and reached some business agreements.
This mission has laid a good foundation for
economic exchanges between Guangxi and Ontario.
My delegation and I visited Ontario Ministry
of Economic Development this morning, and
exchanged views with Minister Executive Assistant
Mr. Dan Lacaprara on further development
the mutual trade and economic relationship.
Guangxi
is undergoing vast infrastructure construction.
We need to introduce more advanced technology,
management skills and capitals to Guangxi
with the implementation of the central government's
West region development strategy. Ontario
is taking a lead in machinery manufacture,
food process, paper and chemical industries.
These advantages are right for Guangxi to
learn from. With China's WTO accession at
hand, the opening-up scale and areas will
be further expanded, the investment environment
will be improved as well. Our policies are
going to be more favorable to foreign investors.
The provincial government will keep on improving
the investment environment by fulfilling
the infrastructure facilities, reforming
the investment soliciting system, simplifying
the business procedure, improving the services,
raising the administrative efficiency and
protecting the foreign investors' legal rights.
The foreign businessmen can enjoy not only
the favorable policies granted by the central
government, but also the special preferential
policies given since Guangxi is part of West
region in China.
Guangxi
will focus more on infrastructure construction
of transportation, ports, water conservancy
etc., further strengthen environmental protection
and give priorities to development of hydro
power, non-ferrous mental and tourism resources.
This will provide more opportunities to the
foreign companies including those from Canada
to gain access our market. Chinese saying
said: Seeing is believing. Welcome you all
to Guangxi for observation and discussion
of economic co-operation and joint development.
Guangxi's
minorities are renowned for their singing
and dancing. To preserve and develop this
culture heritage, we have been holding the
annual Nanning International Folk Song & Arts
Festival in Nanning City, capital of Guangxi
since 1993. This year's festival and China
Film Gold Rooster Award Ceremony will be
held in mid November, a trade fair is going
to be held simultaneously in Guangxi Exhibition
Center at Nanning City. I would like to take
this opportunity to invite the Canadian friends
to join us in the 2000 Nanning International
Folk Song & Art Festival and Trade Fair,
so that we can further deliberate on our
investment, technical and trade co-operation
efforts. It will also be a good chance for
our friends to get the first hand experiences
of Guangxi's unique landscape and colorful
ethnic cultures, in addition to your personal
observation and understanding of Guangxi
and its market potential and investment opportunities,
a broader and in depth exploration of business
co-operation can be made.
At
last, may I propose a toast, to the economic
and trade co-operation between Guangxi and
Ontario to the health of our friends present.
Cheers! |
