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GUANGZHOU
– Premier Gordon Campbell helped
celebrate British Columbia’s special relationship with its sister province in
China by turning the sod today on the Guangdong-British Columbia Pacific Gateway
Park, which will also serve as a showcase for outdoor wood products from B.C.
“No part of China shares as many economic
and personal ties to British Columbia as Guangdong province, which has provided
more immigrants to our province than any other part of China,” said Campbell.
“In fact, Guangdong province has declared November 25 as B.C. day – a great
honour for British Columbia.”
“As the Garden capital of China, Guangzhou
is the ideal location for B.C. to showcase the durability of our outdoor wood
products such as pressure-treated Hemlock, SPF and Western Red Cedar, and tap
into new markets,” continued Campbell.
Campbell also opened the Chung Ai
Photographic Society Exhibition, a show of 130 photographs of British Columbia
created by B.C. photographers.
“This display of talent by B.C.
photographers will show off our province and help promote British Columbia as a
tourism destination. The Chung Ai Photographic Society is doing its part to
strengthen the cultural ties between our provinces,” said Campbell. “Our
province had the great honour of hosting a similar exhibit of Guangdong
photography in October 2006 during the visit of Governor Huang Huahua and his
delegation.”
Much of the visit to Guangdong is about
extending the cultural ties with British Columbia. Campbell is also attending
the opening ceremonies of the Guangdong International Tourism and Culture
Festival, an event attended by 60,000 people and likely viewed by 95 million.
British Columbia performers at the event include Whistler vocalist/songwriter
Ali Milner, Delta’s country/folk music group The Higgins Family, and 12 youth
dancers from across B.C.
Tomorrow – B.C. Day in Guangdong – the
Premier will run in the Guangzhou Terry Fox Run, visit the city of Jiangmen,
and attend a cultural performance by Guangdong Sister Provinces/States.
Campbell
is in Guangdong as part of a mission to Japan and China, including the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region, to promote British Columbia as Canada’s
Pacific Gateway. This is his third mission to Asia, following visits to China
and India in 2003, and China and Japan in 2001.
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Photos from the Premier’s
events in China will be available in the government media room at: www.mediaroom.gov.bc.ca
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Communications Director Office of the Premier 250 361-7783 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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