In focus: A look at the new Canada-China agreements

BUSINESS

In focus: A look at the new Canada-China agreements

The Canadian Press Published Saturday, November 8, 2014 11:47AM EST

Canada's Minister of International Trade Ed Fast, left, shakes hands with a Chinese official as Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, rear left, and China's Premier Li Keqiang, rear right, clap during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. (AP / Petar Kujundzic, Pool)

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BEIJING -- A look at some of the agreements and initiatives announced during Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to China:

Increased renminbi trade: Canada and China have agreed to a set of measures to support the increased use of renminbi in trade, commerce and investment between the two countries.

Foreign Affairs Ministers Dialogue and an Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue: This agreement is designed to enhance bilateral communication and co-operation in the areas of foreign affairs and economic and financial matters.

Memorandum of Understanding on Nuclear Co-operation: Expansion of this agreement will help the Canadian nuclear industry increase its exports to China and generate jobs and growth in Canada's nuclear energy sector.

Air Travel: An updated Canada-China Air Transport Agreement allows airlines from both countries to offer more travel options for goods, services and people.

Transit Without Visa Program: Expansion of the Transit Without Visa Program and the China Transit Program adds China Southern Airlines to both programs. Travellers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan who normally require a visa to come to Canada are allowed to transit without a visa if they are travelling through Canada en route to or from the U.S.

Health sector: Both countries will co-operate more closely in several health-related areas, including joint research efforts on infectious disease prevention and control, chronic disease, traditional Chinese medicine, food safety, health innovation as well as health emergency preparedness and response.

Cherries: This agreement marks the normalization of cherry exports from B.C. to China, valued by the industry at $20 million annually. The two sides also agreed to sign a arrangement of intent to develop mutually agreeable conditions for export of fresh blueberries to China.