Premier Dalton McGuinty travelled to Nanjing to join leaders from Jiangsu in a celebration of the 25-year relationship between the two provinces.

Premier McGuinty co-hosted a lunch with Governor of Jiangsu, Luo Zhijun, to celebrate a relationship that began in 1985 with an agreement signed by then-Premier David Peterson. Premier McGuinty and Governor Luo signed another five-year friendship agreement that helps create economic opportunities in areas such as international education, energy conservation, clean water technology, financial services and tourism.

Premier McGuinty also signed a tourism cooperation agreement with Jiangsu. This is in addition to the agreements already signed during the mission with Henan and Shandong provinces, bringing the total to over $200 million in benefits for Ontario’s tourism economy. In addition, Ontario signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jiangsu Province to enhance education cooperation between the two provinces.

While in Nanjing, Premier McGuinty attended a groundbreaking at the Menergy Research and Development Centre. The Markham-based company began operating in China in 2004 and has benefited from stronger relationships between Ontario and China. The Premier also visited a school in Jiangsu where he met with some of the over 150 teachers who attend Suon college in Toronto six times a year to exchange ideas on teaching methods and learn about Ontario’s education system.

Also meeting in Nanjing today was the Ontario-Jiangsu Business Council. A direct result of the Premier’s 2005 trade mission to China, this is the Council’s fourth meeting. The Council established a plan of cooperative initiatives over the next year.