MacLauchlan and Economic Development and Tourism Minister Heath MacDonald met with government, business and education leaders in four Chinese cities during the March 22-31 mission.
MacLauchlan said several agreements signed during the trip will send more Island products to China, lead to more Chinese students learning from P.E.I. schools and bring more Chinese visitors to P.E.I.’s shores.
The province has a goal of quadrupling trade with China by 2025.
MacLauchlan and MacDonald met with the new Canadian ambassador to China, John MacCallum, and with government, business and education leaders to promote collaboration and explore opportunities to enhance economic activity between P.E.I. and China.
The delegation also met with Alibaba, the world's largest retail-commerce company with more than 440 million active buyers; and visited the headquarters of JD.com, China’s leading e-commerce platform with more than 226 million active customers.
The trip also included a visit to a Cows ice cream store in Beijing, which has been open in since 2014.
Related: P.E.I. and sister province in China sign education, tourism agreements
The premier was an invited speaker at the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Island Economic Cooperation Forum to promote the Island’s marine technology industry and seafood products.
Aspin Kemp and Associates and COSCO Shipping Corporation, agreed to jointly pursue the development of advanced power and propulsion technologies in the marine and oil and gas sectors.
For the tourism sector, Atlantic Wild Travel met with Alitrip, Alibaba’s travel platform, with the goal of promoting outdoor adventure on P.E.I. to Chinese markets.
In both Shanghai and Beijing, the delegation met with travel tour operators and media outlets to promote the province as a tourism destination for the growing Chinese market.
National Geographic Traveler, Lonely Planet and Conde Nast Traveler were some of the travel media participating in these events.
Memoranda of understanding and agreements signed
• Prince Edward Island and Hainan Province signed a MOU on deepening people-to-people exchange and cooperation
• UPEI and Hainan University’s Centre of Island Studies of the State Oceanic Administration agreed to establish a research network on island economies
• UPEI renewed their agreement with Hainan University to facilitate faculty and student exchange opportunities
• Sunrise Group and Sichuan Honyee Group signed an agreement that will bring Cows stores to key tourism locations across western China
• Holland College and Hainan College of Vocation and Technique renewed their joint venture agreement to add the golf club management program, business administration and marketing and advertising management
• Holland College and Hainan Technician College agreed to foster cooperation in education, research and cultural exchange to develop mutually beneficial programs for their students, faculty, departments and research institutes
• The premier signed an agreement with Chengdu Yulin High School to create Prince Edward Island’s fifth overseas affiliated school
• Holland College and the Zhengzhou Vocational College of Information Technology agreed to explore establishing an educational joint partnership in offering four at the institution and Tianjin City Vocational College
• Aspin Kemp and Associates and COSCO Shipping Corporation agreed to jointly pursue the development of advanced power and propulsion technologies in the marine and oil and gas sectors
• Appin Cross Fine Foods reached agreements with two major food distributors, positioning them to distribute their beef products through new channels
