Canada, China ink an array of commercial deals worth more than $1 billion

BEIJING, China – Prime Minister Stephen Harper was surrounded by Chinese business representatives clamouring to have their photo taken with him today after he announced an array of commercial deals with China.

At a Canada-China business luncheon in Beijing, Harper witnessed the signing of more than 20 deals between Canadian and Chinese organizations valued at more than $1 billion.

They include an investment deal in the sustainable technologies sectors to combat air pollution in China.

Harper then made a speech to the conference, telling the audience that Canada hopes to narrow the significant trade imbalance between Canada and China, creating Canadian jobs as a result.

Following the speech, the crowd was told the prime minister would pose for photos with anyone interested. Within minutes, dozens of Chinese business people flooded to the front of the room to pose beside the smiling Harper.

Later today, Harper is expected to announce that Canada and China have signed a deal to make Canada the first Chinese currency hub in the Americas.

The deal will foster far easier trade between the Canadian dollar and the Chinese yuan, also known as the renminbi.

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