马丁·柯雄在APEC中国日高峰论坛上的演讲
Good morning,
First, let me tell you how pleased I am to be here today and to be participating in this 2014 APEC meeting .
I'm also please to join and celebrate the 25th anniversary of APEC , an organisation whose mandate is
to support trade , investment and growth across Pacific . Thanks to the organisers and sponsors,
looking at the impressive gathering, one must say this celebration is already a success . As Canadian ,
I'm also glad to celebrate the unique frienship that exist between Canada and China . The first time
I came to China was more than 17 years ago, I was still a Canadian Minister and I joined a mission to
Shanghai organised by the City of Montreal. I'm sure some of you know that Shanghai and Montreal
have been sister cities for 30 years . Like all the APEC members , that great relationship make those
two cities stronger .
As the mandate of APEC is to boost the economy , over the past decades, China has certainly done
its share since it has grown at an amazing pace . Recently, its economy went through a transition
phase that will necessitate some reforms. Here, we may talk about the financial sector, the SOEs
and the private sector. We may also talk about the need to manage the migration into the big urban
areas and to create a strong social safety net. There are huge challenges ahead of China, and yet,
we know that the society will surface stronger once it is done. As we speak, the work has already
started following the decisions taken during the third plenum .
Here, the conference will do its share, since you will be speaking about the economy and the
necessity to have a growing relationship among APEC . You will also be speaking about the
need for reform and the need to have an economic development where nobody is left aside .
Indeed , a balance society is a society of well being . This is clearly one of the many goals here
in China, but also all over the world. I am sure that your discussions will be fruitful and, hopefully,
will bring solutions that will provide concrete results to societies.
Today, my opening remarks will be about Sino-Canada economic cooperation. As you know,
I am a former Canadian Minister and I left politics more than a decade ago…
maybe not for good… Since joining the private sector, I have mostly been involved in projects
between China and Canada. As a result, I became Co-Chair of the Canada China Business Council,
a council that was founded more than 30 years ago, immediately after the establishment of
the “open door policy” by Deng Xiaoping.
Like China, Canada has its own challenges and obstacles. Even though we went through the
last financial crisis without apparent difficulties, our businesses could indeed be more productive
and more aggressive in the global market place.
Canada and China are two very different countries, but my knowledge of the relationship is telling
me that very few countries in the world are meant to work together to the same extent that Canada
and China are. To me, it is obvious that the two countries need one another. It is also obvious that
the commercial relationship, based on mutual respect and mutual benefits, will keep growing for
the best interests of both of our societies, and there are many reasons for that.
The long lasting relationship that the two countries have enjoyed is certainly one of them. Indeed,
it is deeply rooted in history. To start with, it is worth mentioning former Prime Minister Pierre
Elliot Trudeau, who, in 1970, established an official diplomatic relationship with China.
We can also talk about former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who led a team Canada commercial
mission to China and has supported its candidacy to become a member of
the World Trade Organization. At that time, when China started to build support, I was the Secretary
of State responsible for a regional development agency. In that capacity, I was involved in a Chinese
investment in Canada shortly before China’s accession to the WTO.
I will not tell you that the relationship is perfect because it is not and we all know that there is
no such thing as a perfect relationship. Today , it is a clear blue sky at a time when the two countries
are doing fairly well in terms of coming back after a crisis that has impacted the world. Of course
it doesn't mean we , Canada , don't have challenges because we do .
In 2013, Canada’s GDP rate was 2.0% and China's rate was 7.5%. According to the OECD,
Canada’s economy is expanding in a very modest way . Nevertheless, in recent years,
Canada’s economy is among the strongest in the G7 and is expected to lead for many years.
On the other hand, the Chinese economy has shown some surprising strength. Even though
the economy doesn’t produce a double-digit GDP rate anymore, it is still one of the strongest
growing economy in the world.
Canada and China have a lot to gain in the global economy. Both countries need to export
and also need to be open to foreign direct investment. In addition, Canada also needs to
diversify its markets. This remains a challenge. Indeed, the size of the US economy, the proximity
of its market and the business culture, which is pretty much alike, makes it very easy for
the Canadian businesses. Not so long ago, talking to a Canadian entrepreneur about going
to Asia, the classic answer was: why would I go there when I have such an easy market next door?
Fortunately, that is changing. The past world financial crisis has taught us that it wasn’t good
to have all our eggs in the same basket.
As timing is often everything, there is a momentum that is developing now for Canada and China
and the two countries should, if I may say, work harder to seize that momentum and make
it happen. As I said, we deeply need one another, as there is a strong complementarity
in our economies. That was well demonstrated by the Economic Partnership working group
established by the two countries. Indeed, in 2012 , the working group produced a report entitled:
Canada-China Economic Complementary Study. It should be noted that the report mentions
that “economic complementarities” are defined as the interests and requirements of one country
that can be matched with a capacity to supply in the other country.
Recognizing that Canada and China have to deepen their trade and economic relation and
knowing that China is Canada’s second trading partner and that Canada ranks 13th among
China’s trading partners, the study essentially focuses on a list of seven (7) sectors that are
reflecting special needs on one side or the other. The sectors are as follows:
Agriculture and agri-food
Clean technology and environment
Machinery and equipment
Natural resources
Textiles
Transportation infrastructure and aerospace
Services
The goal of that exercise, as mentioned in the joint study, is to strengthen the economic relationship
by increasing the two-way trade in goods and services. A brief look at the statistics tells us that
there is still a lot of potential for growth.
(2013)
Canada’s exports to China: US$20 billion
Canada’s imports from China: US$52 billion
Here, it is worth noting that sectors prioritized by the study have similarities with the
seven (7) strategic initiatives mentioned in China’s Twelfth Five-Year Action Plan.
It is also interesting to see that the bilateral commercial relationship is not only about
natural resources. Of course, a major transaction, like CNOOC buying NEXEN,
a 15 billion dollar transaction , drew a lot of attention and some concerns among
the population. Recently in Canada, we saw investment in biotechnology, clean tech ,
real estate and agri-food. It is the same for Canadian businesses in China. We can
mention Power Corporation, Bombardier , Manulife and the Bank of Montreal.
So, there is a natural fit between the two markets and our respective governments
should do everything they can to promote bilateral trade while respecting each
other’s economy. Recently, a Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement (FIPA) was signed and also ratified .The main purposes of
a FIPA are to establish clear investment rules and measures to protect foreign
investors against discriminative or arbitrary governmental practices and to provide
effective compensation in the event of an expropriation. This agreement will create
stability and should encourage investment between the two countries.
As we know , Canada has joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement (TPP).
Many APEC countries are participating in that discussion. Altogether,
they represent an economy of 27 trillion, in other words, more than 30% of the global GDP.
Recently , Mr Zhu Guangyao , Vice minister of finance would have said that TPP would
be incomplete without China and I agree . If China joins, that will certainly add to
the importance of the TPP. Nevertheless, Canada’s positioning in the TPP should not
prevent it from initiating discussions with China about a potential free trade agreement
between the two countries. In doing so, Canada would just say “yes” to a request made
by the government of China some time ago. Hopefully, with the Canada-EU trade
negotiations now completed , it will open the door to the start of negotiations with China.
In doing so , Canada would send the right signal and would show a better and stronger
commitment to the commercial relationship, a relationship that is very strategic for
the two countries.
Even though the Canadian government is very cautious with regards to trade agreements,
it seems to be more aligned with the “gateway initiatives”. First, the Asia Pacific Gateway
announced in 2006. This is basically a set of transportation infrastructure initiatives across
western Canada, which will improve the trade position of Canada, especially in
the Asia Pacific Region.
The other gateway is the “Northern Gateway”. This is essentially a twin pipeline that would
go from Alberta to Kitimat in British Columbia. One would import hydrocarbon natural gas
and the other would export oil sands to the Asian market. The pipelines would be more than
1150 kilometers. It will allow Canada to diversify its markets and could also be a major
stimulus for the Canada-China relationship. As we speak, the project is evolving . Nevertheless ,
let me mention that it will take some time before we can take part in a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Indeed, as the pipeline will travel through lands that belong to First Nations, a substantial
amount of negotiations will have to take place and agreements need to be signed before
we proceed with the project. Furthermore, it is also important to mention that
the environmental groups will also have their say.
In conclusion, notwithstanding the differences, Canada and China have always succeeded
in building a stronger relationship based on mutual respect. We have a lot to gain socially
and economically. Now, the time has come to bring that relationship to another level,
to be more strategic. We should increase our economic, scientific and social ties,
to name a few. Canada, on the other hand, should say "yes" to China and start negotiating
a bilateral free trade agreement. A well-negotiated agreement would help our nations
create jobs, would make us more prosperous and, therefore, would create healthy and more
balanced societies and communities. In the end , a good relationship between the
two countries will also contribute to make the APEC more healthy .
Thank you very much for your attention
Hon. Martin Cauchon , P.C. , LL.M.
Former Minister of Justice and Attorney general of Canada
Martin Cauchon
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