Ten Canadian business organizations and enterprises signed agreements with 12 Chinese companies to cooperate in agriculture, pharmacy and nutrition products at the China International Import Expo on Friday.

Nearly half the domestic companies involved are based in Shanghai or are state-owned enterprises' local branches.

On Tuesday, 19 business agreements between Canadian and Chinese enterprises were signed.

"The expo is very important to both Canada and China, we have signed over C$1.5 billion in trade deals at CIIE, it is very important to Chinese consumers and Canadian agriculture. We are bringing top quality safe products for Chinese consumers who are very concerned about safe food," said Lawrence MacAulay, Canada's agriculture minister.

"We are seeking a stronger, deeper relationship with China, part of that is obviously a stronger and deeper relationship with Shanghai. CIIE brings people to Shanghai, I believe this is a good occasion to deepen our relations further," John McCallum, Canada's Ambassador to China, told Shanghai Daily.

One of Friday's most prominent deals was a strategic partnership signed by the Canada Beef International Institute and Canadian Beef Center of Excellence with Shanghai Haibo Investment Group and Hong Kong-based Million Group, which are both subsidiary corporations of the local Bright Food (Group) Co.

Mathieu Pare, executive director of the Canadian Beef Center of Excellence, praised CIIE as "a phenomenal event" at which to showcase Canadian beef.

"We are really excited to be here to share the high quality, safe and nutritious food that is Canadian beef. We represent Canadian beef producers and it's an opportunity to showcase their product here," Pare told Shanghai Daily. "Our partnership with the two groups is a very exciting opportunity and they are of course two of our biggest trade partners in the Chinese market. So, we are very interested in continuing to grow that relationship and with this agreement, we expect even more to come. It's a really excellent opportunity for us Canadians and, I think, also for Chinese."

Canada was one of the 12 Countries of Honor at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE). The Canada section at the Country Pavilion presented Canada's diversified trade and investment, cutting edge innovation from priority industries as well as the nation's natural beauty and healthy lifestyles.