This event is co-organized by Optical Valley Institute for Free Trade and SFU Jack Austin Center for Asia Pacific Business Studies.

This event will be hosted on Zoom. Access links to the event will be provided prior to the event date.

Time: 7:00am - 9:00am PST

10:00am - 12:00pm EST

Use this Time Zone Converter for global start times.

Background:

In light of China’s recent international trade diplomacy (EU-China Agreement on Investment, RCEP), Optical Valley Institute for Free Trade and SFU Jack Austin Center for Asia Pacific Business Studies are organizing the Fourth Canada-China Economic Forum to discuss and debate the potential for renewing Canada-China trade relations. The forum will feature five distinguished speakers from Canada and China (John Baird, Bo Chen, Fan Cui, Carlo Dade, and Yuen Pau Woo) and will be moderated by Nathan VanderKlippe, Asia correspondent for The Globe and Mail.

Event Program:

Part 1 - Viewpoint Presentation - 60 minutes

Speakers:

• John Baird - Former Foreign Minister of Canada (2011-2015)
• Bo Chen - Chutian Professor of Economics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
• Fan Cui - Professor, University of International Business and Economics
• Carlo Dade - Director of Trade & Investment Centre, Canada West Foundation
  
• Jing Li - Associate Professor, Co-Director, SFU Beedie School of Business Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies
• Yuen Pau Woo - Senator of Canada

Part 2 - Discussion and Q&A - 60 minutes 

• Moderator: Nathan VanderKlippe - Asia correspondent for The Globe and Mail
• The speakers will comment on each other’s viewpoints and discuss and debate whether and how to renew Canada-China trade talks.
• The speakers will answer the questions raised by participants.

About the Speakers:

John Baird, former Foreign Minister of Canada (2011-2015). Prior to his tenure as foreign minister, John served as minister of the environment, minister of transport, infrastructure, and communities; and leader of the government in the House of Commons. Mr. Baird has played a leading role in the Canada-China dialogue and worked to build ties with ASEAN countries. In addition, Mr. Baird has worked closely with international leaders to strengthen security and economic ties with the United States and Middle Eastern countries.

Bo Chen, Chutian Professor of Economics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Chen received his Ph.D. degree in economics from Simon Fraser University in 2008. He is the director of the Optical Valley Institute on Free Trade, a research associate of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and a distinguished fellow of the Jack Austin Center. Prof. Chen has extensive consultation experience on China’s FTZ, B&R, and Reforms on SOEs.

Fan Cui, Professor, University of International Business and Economics. Cui received his Ph.D. degree in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2006. He sits on the Economic and Trade Policy Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Commerce and the Internationalization Expert Committee of the Torch Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Prof. Cui has research expertise and practical knowledge about international economics, trade, and related policy and law issues.

Carlo Dade, Canada West Foundation. As Director of the Trade & Investment Centre, Carlo Dade develops and leads research to promote growth and profitability in western Canada’s export economy. Carlo has a long history in international public policy most recently as Senior Fellow in the University of Ottawa’s School of International Development and Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Jing Li, Associate Professor, Co-Director, SFU Beedie School of Business Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies. Jing is a Canada Research Chair in Global Investment Strategy and the Co-director of the Jack Austin Center for Asia Pacific Business Studies. She is a member of College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists at the Royal Society of Canada. Her research interests include international investment strategies of firms, emreging market multinational enterprises, and management of international joint ventures. She has published over thirty articles in various international business and strategy journals and sits on the editorial review boards of multiple journals, including Strategic Management Journal and Journal of International Business Studies. She also serves as Senior Editor for Management and Organization Review.

Yuen Pau Woo, Senator of Canada. Senator Woo has worked on public policy issues related to Canada’s relations with Asian countries for more than 30 years. From 2005-2014, he was President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. He also serves on the Advisory Boards of the Mosaic Institute, the Canadian Ditchley Foundation, the York Centre for Asian Research, and the Jack Austin Center for Asia Pacific Business Studies.

Nathan VanderKlippe, Asia correspondent for The Globe and Mail. Based in Beijing, VanderKlippe’s reporting takes him across the region, where he covers political developments, social trends, international affairs. He has spoken with political and business leaders, including Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, JD.com founder Richard Liu and many others. His reporting has been recognized by many prestigious awards such as the National Newspaper Awards and National Magazine Awards.