On September 5th, H.E. Mr. Zhang Junsai, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Canada, attended "Heavy Oil and Oil Sand Technologies Symposium 2012" hosted by PetroChina Company Ltd. in Calgary and delivered a keynote speech on China-Canada energy cooperation. Mr. Bo Qiliang, Vice President of PetroChina, Mme. Liu Yongfeng, Chinese Consul-General in Calgary, Mr. Martin Chamberlain, Assistant Deputy Minister for Alberta Energy, and more than 140 experts from China and Canada were present.

Ambassador Zhang briefed the audience on the achievements of China-Canada energy cooperation in recent years and concluded that energy cooperation has indeed become a highlight of China-Canada Strategic Partnership, thanks to the joint efforts of the two governments and business communities.

Ambassador Zhang believed that, being the world's largest energy consumer and an energy and resource superpower respectively, China and Canada should work closer together for a better future for both countries, by taking full advantage of their strengths and strong complementarities, and deepening their cooperation in a comprehensive manner. To be more specific, China and Canada should optimize the institutional environment for energy cooperation, push for more bilateral cooperation projects, develop a comprehensive and integrated pattern of cooperation, and promote more objective opinions among the Canadian general public on investment from China in Canada.

Ambassador Zhang stressed that China is a market economy and China's state-owned enterprises are independent market players. Their investments in Canada's energy sector are market-driven decisions. While investing in Canada, Chinese enterprises have made due contribution to local employment and community development and fulfilled their social responsibilities. Therefore, Chinese enterprises are reliable partners for cooperation and Chinese investments should be encouraged.