What relationships has Edmonton formed with China?
Edmonton has formed a number of relationships with China through forums, conferences, sister-city partnerships, and community outreach.
The University of Alberta’s China Institute in Edmonton is entrusted with the mission to forge links between China-related initiatives and scholarship at the University of Alberta; to enhance and support new teaching and research activities between Canada and China; and to develop an enduring friendship and promote cultural, scientific, and business exchanges.
The Institute’s major areas of activities are: the Joint-lab research project with China's Ministry of Science and Technology; the annual Canada-China energy forum; student exchange programs; training programs, cross-cultural leadership development projects and networking opportunities; cutting-edge research on Chinese politics, economy, society, culture and Canada-China relations; and language teaching programs.
In addition to the efforts of the China Institute, the City of Edmonton has built further relationships with Chinese communities such as the sister-city partnership with Harbin. The Chinatown Gate located in Edmonton’s Chinatown symbolizes the friendship between Edmonton and Harbin.
The larger community also builds and maintains relationships with Chinese communities: In August 2009, 18 children were invited by the Edmonton Chinese Bilingual Association (ECBEA) and by the City of Edmonton to visit Edmonton. The children were from Chengdu, and had been orphaned by the 2008 earthquake in China's Sichuan province. Trip fundraisers from the local Chinese community and the ECBEA raised $96,000 and helped bring the kids to Edmonton.
