Shanghai, January 13- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, met yesterday with various cultural stakeholders and business people from Canada and China at a reception co-hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai as part of a 7-day working trip in China.

Minister Joly is the first Minister of Canadian Heritage to visit China in the past 12 years. During her speech, the Minister underscored the importance of increasing people to people exchanges, improving economic relationships and developing greater cooperation between Canada and China’s creators and cultural industries in order to innovate and be successful on the international stage.

Minister Joly also indicated that she participated in the launch of a Canadian cultural and creative industry advisory group in Shanghai, comprised of representatives from Canadian companies who are present in the Chinese market. The group will convene on a regular basis to offer the Government insight and practical experience regarding opportunities for the Canadian creative sector.

Minister Joly noted that she looks forward to coming back to China in 2018 to nurture Canada’s cultural and economic relationship with the Chinese people and help create the conditions for more Canadian creative exports.

“Our Government understands the importance of giving Canadian creators and cultural entrepreneurs every chance to seize opportunities provided by international markets and audiences, and we see tremendous opportunity in China. That is why we are considering leading a cultural trade mission in China in the future. Our goal is to enable and support Canadian creators and cultural entrepreneurs to increase their competitive position on the international stage, ensure their sustainability and by extension, contribute directly to Canada’s overall economic and social prosperity.”—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage