Minister Ida Chong's Mission Journal Day 7 — November 25 Click photos for larger image. Minister's journal entry for Nov. 25   A private greeting from Huang Long Yun, the Executive Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province. Minister Chong presented a First Nations carving as a gift of friendship between the Provinces of Guangdong and British Columbia. She also presented a CD containing samples of local government publications, including the BC-Asia Twinning Tool Kit.   Minister Chong received a World Cultural Heritage-Kaiping Castle commemorative coin set from Mr. Zhao Rui Zhang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of Kaiping City People's Congress. B.C's Community Services Minister Chong  reviewing the objectives of her 10-day mission to China during interviews Nov. 25.

Journal entry for Nov. 25

From Zhongshan, we left to travel to Kaiping which happens to be my ancestral home. The welcome was so heart-warming and endearing. There remains a record of my paternal grandfather’s contribution back to his village and his picture hangs in the location of his house still.

I was honoured to have a luncheon hosted by the Secretary of the Kaiping Committee, Zhang Rui Zhang, the most senior official in Kaiping along with the Vice-Mayor of the Kaiping Municipality. This meeting was particularly opportune as the Kaiping Association in Victoria has just been reinvigorated and Mr. Zhang recently visited British Columbia, thus the potential for creating a sister city relationship is definitely possible.

The Executive Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Huang Long Yun made a special trip back to Guangzhou to meet with me prior to my departure, and Sunday evening was the only time available. He hosted a dinner where we discussed an incredibly wide-ranging series of topics. I wanted to review the priorities of the British Columbia government to address climate change and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, educational exchange opportunities, Olympics 2008 in Beijing and 2010 in Vancouver, B.C. as the Gateway to/from North America. I made a special invitation for the Executive Vice-Governor to visit the British Columbia-Canada Pavilion in Beijing when it opens next May 2008. I discussed the potential for further twinning between cities/local governments in our two sister provinces and affirmed the sincere and genuine friendship between our two provinces.

This concludes my mission in China as I will be heading home to Victoria via Hong Kong. Without a doubt, I believe our province will see the benefits of the relationships that just been established, that have been renewed and that have been enhanced during this visit. And with Premier Gordon Campbell’s visit within days of my departure, this relationship will be further strengthened.