When I tell them about the fact there is an ancient Silk Road – one road of infrastructure not waiting to be constructed. But the Silk Road has revitalised road, rail, seaport and sea lands to bring together hundreds of millions of people. It’s amazing thing for a Canadian to contemplate.

Former Minister of International Trade, Vice-Chairman of the Canada China Business Council -- Stockwell Day 

“Ni Hao.”  That’s the end of my Chinese vocabulary, but it’s the beginning of what I believe will be a fantastic relationship with this opening and with this summit on December 10, 2018. I wanted to show off to you by showing you leaving proof that I am indeed an official Weibo account holder. I just registered 10 minutes ago.

So for all 500 million people in China that I know are watching right now, I would ask you please each one of you right now to send me just $1. It can be U.S. or Canadian – it doesn’t matter. And I promise I will send you a thank you note. It really is amazing that this linkage is being established.

My friends, ladies and gentlemen, my first visit to China was almost exactly 10 years ago. I was minister of international trade at that time. The very first that I visited was at the epicentre of that terrible Sichuan Earthquake of 2008. They told me I was the first minister from any other country to arrive at that place.

As the mayor of that area showed me the devastation, and as we put our arms around each other, I must confess I shed a tear. I was struck by something which I will never forget. First of all, there’s the absolute devastation that an earthquake can bring. But the next thing that struck me along with the grief, the sadness and the compassion that everybody was feeling, the rebuilding already started. The trucks were coming in with new materials, building for seniors who lost their homes, and daycare centres for children. In a snapshot of time, it showed me very clearly something I have never forgot and which I have seen every time when I visited China. That’s the ability and the will of the people in China to face any challenges and to realize that there’s a way forward. That indeed is what is carried China, especially in that incredible period of time.

When I spoke to Canadians who haven’t been to China, they are amazed when I tell them we all aware of the large cities in China that have been there for centuries and for millennia. But I tell Canadians the cities now in China when I look out of my hotel window, I realized there was more citizens in this one city in China than the entire population of Canada. When we reflect on the fact that never in history – ancient or modern – have we seen so many people by the hundreds of millions moved from poverty to middle class status. It’s never happened before. We have never seen this.

When I tell them about the fact there is an ancient Silk Road – one road of infrastructure not waiting to be constructed. But the Silk Road has revitalised road, rail, seaport and sea lands to bring together hundreds of millions of people. It’s amazing thing for a Canadian to contemplate.

We know throughout history that any time trade happened, it’s not only the service or product that’s being traded but its ideas; its relationships; its feelings. Trade is a great mover of peace. Trade, as it has been said, it takes two strangers and makes them friends.

Now with the capabilities we see in technology, like Weibo can you imagine, as Canadians are communicating now when we will be able to communicate at a phenomenal level like never before. We have heard already from presenters, the opportunities, tourism, education, technology – there’s no end to what can be provided and developed. So my friends, I congratulate Weibo, congratulate those you who are here, congratulate every Canadian and every person and every business in China who will begin to connect, making both of our countries even better places than they are now. And in fact, making the world a better place. Thank you for being here!