Minister Fast Highlights Opportunities for Canada’s Civil Nuclear-Energy Materials, Products and Services in China

Top photo - April 16, 2013 - From left: Cai Jiaxia of the China National Nuclear Corporation; Minister Fast; Wang Gang, Director of Operation and Production Department of the China Nuclear Power Company Ltd.; and Ruan Yang Qiang, Regional Vice-President, China, of Candu Energy Inc.

Bottom photo - April 9, 2013 - The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), touring the Qinshan III nuclear facility.

April 17, 2013 - Beijing, China - The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, highlighted the growing opportunities for Canadian business in the civil nuclear-energy field in China.

The supplementary protocol to the Canada-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, which was announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2012 and is now in force, gives Canadian companies greater access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-expanding economies, generating jobs and prosperity at home while contributing to the use of clean, reliable energy in China. The protocol is a further demonstration of the good will between Canada and China and the two countries’ commitment to continue to expand cooperation in the nuclear sector in a safe and secure manner.

China is currently the world’s largest energy consumer and is set to become the largest market opportunity for nuclear-reactor technology in the world. The World Nuclear Association estimates that China’s nuclear power-generating capacity will increase up to sixfold by 2020. There are 28 plants currently under construction in China, with plans for 50 more.

Canada is home to more than 170 nuclear component and service companies and a significant source of the world’s uranium, accounting for 15 percent of total world output in 2012.

Canada’s nuclear industry contributes well over $5 billion to the Canadian economy and directly employs over 21,000 Canadians.

Minister Fast is on a two-week visit to Asia that includes stops in the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Hong Kong, Beijing, Harbin and Tianjin before he attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Indonesia.

For more information, please consult Deepening Trade with Asia.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Rudy Husny
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-7332

Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
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