“China possesses some comparative advantages in infrastructure construction, such as ports, railways, highways and telecom, and is willing to get more involved in Canada’s implementation of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor initiative,” China’s minister of transport Li Shenglin said through a translator in a keynote speech at Routes to the Next Economy.
Both Canada and China have benefited greatly from bilateral trade between the two nations, which reached $29.7 billion US last year, up from just $150 million US in 1970, Li said in his speech. China is now Canada’s second largest trading partner and third largest export market.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger checked out Chinese high-speed rail projects during a September visit and is reportedly considering Chinese involvement in building rail in the cash-strapped state.