Forum Program

*Draft only, program subject to change.

Location: Pinnacle Ballroom, Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown, Vancouver, British Columbia

Date: May 12, 2017

Time: 8:00am - 4:30pm

8:00 - 8:30 AM Breakfast and Registration

8:30 - 8:35 AM Welcoming Remarks

Gordon Houlden, Director, China Institute, University Of Alberta

8:35 - 9:15 AM Opening Keynote Remarks

Hon. John McCallum, Ambassador of Canada to the People's Republic of China - Confirmed

9:15 - 10:30 AM Panel 1
China's Rise in International Investment and Trade: A New Globalization Leader?

Amid the turmoil and uncertainties of North America and Europe, will China step forward and become the new champion of global open trade - as President Xi Jin-ping suggested in Davos in January? Is that likely or feasible? In what way and with what objectives would China take a leadership role? What are the implications for the international economic system as we know it - and for Canada as a player within that framework?

Chair: Guy Saint-Jacques, former Canadian Ambassador to the P. R. China (2012-2016)

Speakers:
Clark Roberts, Deputy Minister, International Trade, Government of British Columbia

Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute, King's College, London

Jian Han, Professor, Department of International Economics and Trade, Nanjing University; Adjunct Professor, Nanjing University-Johns Hopkins University Center for Chinese and American Studies (SAIS)

Yves Tiberghien, Director of the Institute of Asian Research, University of British Columbia

A view persists that our economic ties with China are not maturing as much as they could - or as rapidly as those of our competitors. Is an upgrade of China links all the more urgent with what may be happening with the US/NAFTA - or does it simply require we update how best to use the North American platform and the full range of global value chains that connect us to Asia Pacific? Indeed, how can Canada gain ground in the Chinese market and ensure China continues to grow as an investment source, even as China forms its own alliances in Asia Pacific and elsewhere?

Chair: Ron MacIntosh, Ottawa Representative and Senior Fellow, China Institute, University of Alberta

Speakers:
Brian Kingston, Vice President, International and Fiscal Issues, Business Council of Canada

Stewart Beck, President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Greg Anderson, Professor of Political Economy, University of Alberta

Damien Ma, Fellow and Associate Director, The Paulson Institute

12:10 - 1:00 PM Luncheon & Keynote Remarks

His Excellency Lu Shaye, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Canada

1:00 - 2:30 PM Panel 3
Approaching Free Trade Agreement with China: Policy Perspectives

Ideally a comprehensive economic agreement or FTA would reinforce the development of Canada - China economic ties. We can learn from the experience of others such as Australia, New Zealand and Korea. But what are our own expectations and our priorities? How can an agreement best respond to the needs and capacities of Canada's regions - and of specific sectors?

Chair: Ken Sunquist, former ADM and Chief Trade Commissioner; Senior Fellow, China Institute, University of Alberta

Speakers:
Guy Saint-Jacques, former Canadian Ambassador to the P. R. China (2012-2016)

Dan Ciuriak, former Deputy Chief Economist at the formerly called Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT, now Global Affairs Canada), Director and Principal, Ciuriak Consulting Inc.

Jason Krips, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Government of Alberta

Bruce Christie, Chief Air Negotiator & Director General, Services, Intellectual Property and Investment Trade Policy Bureau, Global Affairs Canada

How can changes in our economic relations with China, through an FTA or otherwise, serve to grow Canadian companies, both in traditional areas of strength such as resources as well as in newer, value-added sectors (eg, agri-food, clean tech, manufacturing and services) where we are potentially competitive in the Chinese market and/or attractive as investment partners - in both directions? In short, what advice would business organizations give to Canadian trade negotiators - or to investment policy-makers?

Chair: David Hartman, Executive Director, Greater China Division, Global Affairs Canada

Speakers:
Jimmy Mitchell, Vice President of Business Development, Advantage BC

Mike Holden, Director of Policy & Economics, Canadian Manufacturer and Exporter Association

Leo de Bever, Chairman, Oakpoint Energy; former CEO of Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)

Wayne Iversen, Program Manager, Emerging Markets, BC Council of Forest Industries