Wednesday, July 17, 2013

...and this was 2008, the stampede begins

Yorkregion.com - Vaughan - Politicians set to jet to China
Politicians set to jet to China
Vaughan
Jan 23, 2008 07:18 PM
Chinese government wants councillors to visit country
By: Caroline Grech
Vaughan politicians are packing their bags and could head to China on a trade mission as soon as March 8. They plan to visit Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

“I think it’s time to go into China. We need to take a look at the market there. We’re looking to attract the Chinese to invest in the City of Vaughan,” Thornhill Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco said.

The only thing left to be decided is whether the trip will be 10 days or 12. The shorter mission could cost about $3,441 per person and for 12 days, about $4,168.

Ms Racco brought the China trip to council and stressed the need to expand Vaughan’s investment opportunities in Asia. She said she worked on it for about a year.

The Vaughan Chinese Business Association, the Federation of Chinese Canadians in York Region and MPP and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Michael Chan helped organize the trip.

Guangzhou has been Vaughan’s friendship city since 1995. The last time local officials visited it was in late 2001.

The city hall delegation will visit local industries, and attend business meetings with government officials, business associations and trade and consulate staff.

So far, contacts have been made with Huadu Automotive Industry Base and Tianshi, a biotechnology firm in Tianjin.

Informal contacts have been made with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade office in Toronto, the Consul General of China in Toronto and Dr. Michael Sui, associate vice-president of research at York University.

Will Sung, president of the Vaughan Chinese Business Association, said it’s important to the Chinese government that foreign politicians visit the country.

A mission to Israel is also approved for sometime in 2008.

“I’m a very strong proponent of international missions for a variety of reasons, but we have to be aware of what we can and can’t do. I want to make sure what we do is done in the best possible manner,” Regional Councillor Mario Ferri said.

He also said there should be a more formal process with regard to trade missions.

“My concern is how do we make these decisions? How do we decide on these? Is it a matter of who asks first?” Mr. Ferri said.

Costs of the trip will be covered by Vaughan’s economic and technology department budget, and from councillor’s individual couancillors’ budgets.

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