Four agreements signed between British Columbia and the Province of Guangdong, China, will see the sister-provinces build advanced clean-energy partnerships, pursue investment and trade opportunities, and share expertise on emergency management, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell announced today in a news release.
"British Columbia's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in particular creates opportunities to establish a global profile for the province's advanced energy sector and offers mutual benefits for Guangdong, which is pursuing its own environmentally sustainable economic growth," said Campbell in the release. "These agreements will promote the exchange of ideas and expertise in the areas of clean energy and emergency management, and build on our trade relationship."
The four Memoranda Of Understanding (MOUs) signed Thursday cover these areas of mutual interest for B.C. and Guangdong:
-Two MOUs on two-way investment and trade promotion will identify areas for enhanced investment and export, including natural resources, technology, manufacturing, communications and tourism. The MOUs anticipate exchanges on investment and trade policies, investment environment, and joint trade promotion activities, and build contacts between companies and investors.
- An MOU on clean energy co-operation will see the provinces exchange information on clean energy policies and regulations, such as recent legislation that sets out B.C.'s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020. The agreement also serves as a bridge for exchanges between clean energy companies, and plans invitations to seminars and trade fairs and the organization of clean-energy business missions.
- An MOU on sharing emergency management information and expertise will see the two provinces exchange information and delegations and plan for joint training opportunities for emergency management officials.
Guangdong and B.C. first established a twinning relationship in 1995.
Since 2001, there have been nine provincial missions between the two jurisdictions.
