Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 07/99) - Economic ties between the Chinese province of Hainan and the NWT were strengthened Thursday when NWT Premier Jim Antoine and Hainan vice-governor Wu Chang Yuan signed a memorandum of agreement at the Explorer Hotel.

Chang Yuan was joined by a Hainan delegation of eight business and industry leaders, including the Hainan Department of Industry director general, the vice-president of China Hainan Airlines and the president of the Hainan Fuel and Chemical Industry.

"This is a very important document for both sides. It's not a document with empty words, but a document focusing on specific areas for future co-operation between the Hainan Province and the Northwest Territories," Chang Yuan said through a translator.

"It is a document that will provide guidelines and a framework for our future economic co-operation."

He said the memorandum of understanding recognizes that there is a need for economic co-operation between the two countries and that both parties stand to gain from that participation.

"It expresses the wish that regular, high-level exchanges between the Hainan Province of China and the Northwest Territories of Canada be encouraged and maintained," Yuan said, adding that he has already extended an official invitation to the NWT premier to visit China.

Hainan was established as a province in 1988, and has a population of around 7 million. It is the southernmost province of China, covering 34,000 square kilometres of land and administering more than 2 million square kilometres of ocean area.

Since becoming a province, Hainan actively began building its industry structure by maximizing its resources and developing new industry and tourism opportunities.

"This time we came here with the aim of learning. We want to learn about your advanced technology and administration methods in transportation, finance, industry, telecommunications and environmental protection," Chang Yuan said.

"My province is rich in tropical resources and Hainan has been actively shifting its industry structure by making full use of resources, agriculture of high efficiency, high-tech industry and an island holiday resort," the vice-governor said.

"An economic structure characterized by the above-mentioned three pillar industries has taken shape in Hainan."

Top NWT officials, including Finance Minister Charles Dent, Transportation Minister Vince Steen and Premier Jim Antoine enjoyed the feast at the Explorer, held to celebrate the signing of the memorandum of understanding.

"Over the past few years, members of our government and Northern businesspeople have participated in trade missions and other visits to China," Antoine said in a speech to the Chinese delegates.

"You have chosen a very interesting time in our history to visit the North. We are only now beginning to tap the great economic potential of the Northwest Territories."

He said that having the chance to exchange ideas and promote economic opportunities between Hainan and the NWT is essential to the success of future progress between them.

"Good business relationships begin by establishing strong friendships. Your delegation's visit provides us with the chance to begin to build these relationships and to look for ways to explore common interests in areas such as tourism, culture and other economic areas."