Media Release

For Immediate Release

October 17, 2008

Saint Mary’s hosts discussion forum with former Chinese ambassador

Ambassador Jiang Chengzong (left), Michael G. MacKinnon, Co-president, Halifax Branch, CIC, Ambassador Mei Ping and Dr. J. Colin Dodds, President Saint Mary's University.

The Canadian International Council (CIC) and Saint Mary's University hosted an afternoon discussion forum today featuring Ambassador Mei Ping, who served as Chinese Ambassador to Canada from 1998 until 2005.

The forum was called A Strategic Partnership? The Future of Canada-China Relations.

Ambassador Mei Ping is a Senior Visiting Fellow for the Centre for International Governance Innovation and Chairman of the China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation.

The ambassador and his colleague Ambassador Jiang Chengzong are in Canada for September and October as a Senior Visiting Fellow and Visiting Fellow respectively at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in Waterloo, Ontario. They are conducting a research project on the future of Canada-China relations.

Their research will lead to a report to be made public in the months following their fellowship. CIC is cooperating in this project by providing a forum at events in several cities and by organizing private meetings and consultations for the Ambassadors with selected experts, organizations and business leaders.

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For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca