Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore will join his Port Moody counterpart — and other Tri-City business people — on a trade mission to China this month.
The two-week trip, which starts Sunday, will include a delegation of B.C. mayors from rural and smaller urban communities aiming to boost economic and cultural ties with China.
It is being organized by Al Richmond, chairperson of the Cariboo regional district, with partnership from James Wu of the Canada China City and Town Friendship Association.
In China, the delegation will attend meetings, exchanges and receptions as well as visit municipal facilities in Guangdong province and the cities of Shanwei, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Wuhan and Shanghai.
Last week, Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay told The Tri-City News he also plans to meet with a hotel owner/operator in Wuhan who is interested in investing in Canada as well as a farming producer.
PoMo council voted to approve Clay's proposed travel bill of $4,000 — to be funded from the city's Asia Pacific Twinning Relationships Reserve.
Yesterday (Monday), the city of Port Coquitlam revealed that its council, too, had voted to send Moore on the mission (the topic was brought forward, at the last minute, during a special council meeting on April 18, of which the agenda was not advertised until this week).
Moore told The Tri-City News he will look for investment opportunities with PoCo businessmen in China.
He will be accompanied by William Wang, a Coquitlam resident who owns blueberry farms in PoCo, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge and is already exporting his fruit and other products to China. As well, Tom Ramsay of Meridian RV will be on the trip to find ways to market his vehicles in the Asian country, Moore said.
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart is not on the trade mission.
-- with files from Mario Bartel.
