In Ottawa in June, Harper and Chinese President Hu Jintao, who was on a state visit, affirmed their commitment to look for ways to strengthen the economic partnership with China being Canada's second largest two-way trading partner.

Both sides agreed to expedite negotiations of a China-Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, encourage further growth of bilateral trade and enhance cooperation on clean energy, climate change, mineral resources, culture, agriculture, education and science and technology among others.

"We have complementary economies with great potential for growth in two-way trade and investment," he said.

Statistics show that the annual bilateral trade volume, which has grown from 150 million U.S. dollars in 1970 to 29.7 billion dollars in 2009, is keeping a sustainably balanced increase despite the international financial crisis over the past few years.

On the bilateral cooperation in other areas, Cannon said Canada and China have also had informal exchanges at some recent Arctic Council meetings where China has attended as an ad-hoc observer.

"As China's polar scientific interest continues to grow, we foresee the potential for strengthened bilateral relations, both at the governmental and non-governmental level," he said.

Cannon highlighted the importance of people to people ties and interactions that also contribute to the present day relations, adding that China is now the largest source of foreign students in Canada, with over 50,000 Chinese students already studying here.

China is one of the largest sources of immigrants to Canada, with over 1.3 million Canadian residents being of Chinese origin.

On the upcoming tour of China, his second visit as minister of foreign affairs, Cannon said he is looking forward to meeting with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in Beijing to further deepen the strategic and economic partnership.

"I am also looking forward to visiting the China Pavilion, the Montreal Exhibit and the Vancouver Pavilion, and to participating in an event at the Canada Pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai," he said.

Talking about his personal impression of China, Cannon, a 62- year-old Quebecan of Irish and French Canadian descent, said what struck him during his previous visits to China is the speed of change and the energy of the Chinese people.

"I am also time and again impressed by China's economic growth. I was touched by the hospitality of my hosts, and I was impressed with the dynamism of the people of China," he said.

"In fact, since my last visit, I have been thinking a lot about China's growth model and I am now convinced that our two countries must redouble our efforts to cooperate in critical areas, " Cannon concluded.