MP Dechert accompanies PM Harper on Historic Trip to China and South Korea
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2009
MP Dechert accompanies PM Harper on Historic Trip to China and South Korea
MP Bob Dechert and Mississauga Business and Community Leader Victor Oh prepare to leave for South Asia
Mississauga, Ontario – Bob Dechert, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erindale and Vice-Chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association (CCLA) will accompany Prime Minister Stephen Harper from December 2, 2009 to December 6, 2009 on a visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in China and from December 6, 2009 to December 7, 2009 to Seoul, South Korea.
Also, Mississauga Business and Community Leader Victor Oh, Honorary President, Mississauga Chinese Business Association will join MP Dechert and PM Harper in China.
Canada has 1.2 million Canadians of Chinese origin and Chinese, a combination of Cantonese and Mandarin, is our third most widely spoken language in Canada, after English and French. And there are also more then 42,000 Chinese students who are currently studying in Canada.
According to Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population and Housing, Mississauga has 46,120 residents of Chinese-Canadian heritage and 6,865 people of Korean-Canadian heritage. The constituency of Mississauga-Erindale is home to 15,535 people of Chinese-Canadian heritage and 2,100 people of Korean-Canadian heritage.
The Prime Minister’s visit to China will be a key opportunity to extend our presence in China and with our ability to promote Canadian interests. During his visit, PM Harper is going to make a historic address to the South Korean National Assembly. This will be the first time that a Canadian Prime Minister has ever addressed the South Korean Legislature.
Mr. Stephen Chu, President of Mississauga Chinese Business Association indicates, “Mr. Bob Dechert’s trip to China will definitely enhance the relationship between China and Canada.”
“With the economy in China being one of the largest emerging markets in the world, we commend the initiatives of the CCLA and its Vice-Chair, Bob Dechert, to visit with senior Chinese officials to enhance business opportunities for Canadian products and services in China,” said Audrey Chiang, Chair of the Mississauga Board of Chinese Professionals.
