Ambassador welcomes Chinese investment

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BEIJING - Chinese investment in Canada is welcomed, Canadian Ambassador to China David Mulroney said on Friday, adding that the North American country is willing to share environmental protection and emissions technology with China.

"We welcome Chinese business people because Canada is wide open for foreign investment," Mulroney told China Daily on Friday, adding that the embassy has improved visa policies for Chinese business travelers.

In recent months, Canada has shown huge interest in expanding energy cooperation with China.

Christy Clark, premier of British Columbia, Canada, led a 300-member trade delegation to China in early December to discuss cooperation opportunities in liquefied natural gas development with top Chinese gas and oil companies.

Canada's Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver visited China in early November with the message that the business environment for exploration and investment in Canada is positive and continues to attract significant investment.

A large portion of foreign investment in oil and gas comes from countries including China, the United States and Japan. In the northern part of Alberta province, developers have shown great interest in a vast oil reserve that is trapped in sand, Mulroney said.

However, critics in both countries are raising questions over the Canadian government's ability to balance profitability and environmental sustainability.

The Canadian ambassador said that while Canada is keen on oil extraction, the government also requires that areas tapped for natural resources must be returned to their original state.

China and Canada can share technology in energy savings and carbon emission reduction and cooperate in developing sustainable architecture, Mulroney said.

Due to the icy weather conditions of the nation's winter, Canadians have increased their use of cost-efficient, environmentally friendly heating solutions.

During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, shades and controlled exposure to sunlight were used to help regulate the temperatures of the facilities, Mulroney said.

Environmentally conscious designs have also found their way into the rooftops of some Chinese cities through the use of Canadian lumber, which was a feature of the Canada Pavillion at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, he said.

In addition to trade and investment cooperation between the two governments, public diplomacy is expected to be an increasing highlight.

After receiving many students and visitors from China, Canada aims to place more of its students in China for international exchanges, said Mulroney.

The Canadian ambassador said he hopes these measures will take China-Canada relations "to a new level".