China's rise is expected to have spinoff benefits for Edmonton's future.

China's economic growth has averaged more than nine per cent annually over the past two decades and shows no signs of slowing, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It could also overtake the United States and Germany to become the world's largest exporter in the next five years.

By 2010, Chinese goods and services could represent as much as 10 per cent of global trade compared with six per cent now, OECD figures show.

And city and business officials are making sure that Edmonton is able to get its slice of the economic pie. Mayor Stephen Mandel is off to China for a nine-day tour starting Friday, Oct. 7.

Jack Dagley, Business Edge
EEDC president Allan Scott, left, and Mayor Stephen Mandel flank consul general Song Xizhu.

"Our intention is to get Edmonton known over there," says Mandel, adding the city will be pushing its expertise in environmental standards such as waste management, drainage and water services. "It's my belief that the City of Edmonton has a volume of opportunities to be gathered by dealing with China directly."

Tourism is another sector that will be highlighted during Mandel's visit and that will become even more significant in the not-too-distant future, says Ken Fiske, vice-president of tourism, events and motion pictures for Edmonton Economic Development Corp. (EEDC).

"What's important for us on the tourism side is the fact that Canada is looking at approved destination status (with China) so that we can open up further travel between China and Canada," says Fiske, who is part of the Edmonton delegation.

"So approved destination status allows Chinese citizens to travel to Canada as we would travel as a tourist. This is really big news. It is expected to come through within the next year and that means that we have another whole market that we can draw from and that the Chinese can go and enjoy. They come here on a business perspective now, but we'd like to be able to see them come over and vacation here."

But it's not just the mayor's visit that has Edmonton focusing its sights on China.

China's consul general Song Xizhu recently announced that the Chinese consulate will extend its presence in Alberta by operating a monthly consultation day in Edmonton, allowing Edmontonians and those from northern Alberta improved access to consular services.

Starting in October, on the last Thursday of every month, staff from the Chinese consulate office in Calgary will come to Edmonton and operate out of the third floor of the city's World Trade Centre at 9990 Jasper Ave.

"As the capital of the province of Alberta, Edmonton is very important," Xizhu said at the announcement for the opening of consular days in Edmonton.

"China's relationship with Edmonton is growing and our ability to exchange information on opportunities with respect to the energy, agriculture, tourism, health and technology sectors is essential."

Xizhu noted the importance of Edmonton's reputation as the gateway to the north and its attractiveness from a tourism perspective. "West Edmonton Mall is very important, very big, it's nice - a lot of people wish to come there."

Edmonton's role in playing host to major international sporting events, such as the 2005 World Masters Games or the 2001 IAAF World Championships, has also caught the attention of China, which will host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

"Edmonton is very good at organizing world sports tournaments, very important world-class sports (events) are held here. China is very interested in this city," said Xizhu. "So if we open a day here once a month, we can solve a lot of problems which might occur in doing business or in obtaining visas to China or whatever problems we can come here to solve, so that in the future we can promote the trade relationship with Edmonton."

Improving trade numbers with Alberta is also high on Xizhu's agenda.

"This year, from January to July, Alberta exports to China reached $1 billion US. That is a very impressive figure and we wish to double the trade volume in the next five years time, so we have a lot of work to do," said Xizhu.

China currently imports a large number of chemical products from Alberta along with agricultural goods and commodities such as cattle semen, canola seed and barley.

China's goal to double its trade with Alberta dovetails with its overall goal of doubling trade with Canada from its current level of $15 billion US to $30 billion US by 2010.

"Our relationship has been upgraded to a strategic relationship, so in the future we have to take the advantages of our good relationship," Xizhu said.

(Laura Severs can be reached at laura@businessedge.ca)