Ties between China and Canada took a leap forward yesterday as the two nations signed agreements worth US$3.5 billion.

President Jiang Zemin, during an overview meeting with visiting Prime Minister Jean Chretien, spoke highly of the bilateral relationship.

According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Jiang highlighted political consultations, trade expansion, and co-operation in science, culture, education, environmental protection and energy resources.

Ties between the two countries will develop further as long as the relationship is based on respect, mutual benefit and consultation, Jiang was quoted as saying.

Chretien told Jiang that he was confident that his current visit, his fourth to China, will further bilateral co-operation.

Apart from government officials, the "Team Canada" delegation includes more than 500 Canadian entrepreneurs, including representatives from big-name companies such as Air Canada, Alcatel and Bombardier. The 600-strong entourage is the largest delegation sent by Canada to a foreign country in its diplomatic history.

The Canadian prime minister led a similar delegation to China in 1994.

Two-way trade between China and Canada reached a record high of US$6.91 billion last year, a 44.9 per cent increase from 1999.

Premier Zhu Rongji, at a dinner last night with Canadian entrepreneurs, invited Canadian firms to participate in China's economic development and its ambitious initiative to develop the west.

Chretien yesterday held a separate meeting with Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top law-making body.

Li said the exchanges between the legislatures of the two countries constitute an important part of the bilateral relationship.

Li also held talks with Chairman Andre Desmarais of the Canada-China Business Council.

The Canadians, particularly business people and educators in Canada, have an intense interest in developing relations with China, said Chretien.

(China Daily 02/14/2001)