On January 23, 2025, CCBC’s Quebec Chapter hosted an exclusive Lunar New Year cocktail reception at the National Bank of Canada head office in Montreal, bringing together nearly 120 members and distinguished guests to celebrate the new year and gain insights on the evolving Canada-China economic landscape.

 

>> Click here to see more photos from the event

 

A highlight of the evening was a keynote address by the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, former Prime Minister of Canada. Mr. Chrétien shared personal reflections on the Canada-China relationship, recalling his leadership of a Canadian business delegation to China in 1994 and his interactions with the late Chinese president JIANG Zemin. He praised CCBC’s role in fostering strong bilateral ties, noting the complementary strengths of China’s large population and Canada’s abundant resources.

 

The evening also featured remarks from Vincent Joli-Coeur, Chairman, Asia Pacific, National Bank of Canada, and Vice-Chairman, Financial Markets, and the Honourable Martin Cauchon, Vice-Chair of the CCBC Board of Directors and Special Advisor at DS Lawyers Canada. They discussed key Canada-China business success stories, including the global growth of Canada Goose and lululemon, Quebec’s involvement in the China International Import Expo (CIIE), and Air Canada’s resumed flights to China. Representing DS Lawyers Canada and National Bank of Canada, they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration between Quebec, Canada, and China, our second largest trade partner.

 

Mr. DAI Yuming, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Montreal, emphasized the Canada-China relationship remains a priority in China’s partnerships with Western countries. He recognized the contributions of attendees in strengthening these ties and highlighted the significant potential for mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

 

The event marked a significant leadership transition for CCBC, with attendees bidding farewell to Sarah Kutulakos after nearly 18 years as Executive Director and COO, and welcoming her successor, Bijan Ahmadi. Reflecting on her tenure, Ms. Kutulakos shared key achievements in Canada-China relations, such as high-level trade missions, ministerial visits, and pivotal agreements that shaped bilateral ties. Strong economic ties with China are essential for Canada’s continued growth in an increasingly competitive global market. Mr. Ahmadi noted the important role of trade in Canada’s economy, pointing out that approximately two-thirds of the country’s GDP is connected to trade. Therefore, fostering a productive and pragmatic relationship with China, along with strengthening economic and trade activities between the two countries, supports Canada’s national interests and contributes to its prosperity.

 

 

Tickets: CCBC Members: $25 + tax; Non-Members: $100 + tax

 

Address: National Bank of Canada, 800 Saint-Jacques Street, 36th Floor, Montreal, Quebec

 

About the Speakers:

 

The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien,
P.C., C.C., O.M., Q.C., Ad. E

 

Mr. Jean Chrétien was born in Shawinigan, Québec, Canada. Mr. Chrétien completed his law studies at Université Laval and was admitted to the Québec Bar in 1958. He is also a member of the Ontario Bar.

 

Mr. Chrétien was elected Member of the House of Commons in 1963. During his career, he also served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, President of the Treasury Board, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs and Minister in charge of Social Development.

 

Mr. Chrétien was sworn in as Canada’s 20th Prime Minister of Canada in November 1993 after winning a majority of the seats in the House of Commons. During his tenure he was re-elected with majorities in 1997 and 2000. As Prime Minister, Mr. Chrétien stressed balanced budgets, national unity and a strengthened place for Canada in the world. His government’s legacy also includes a number of social reform and humanitarian initiatives.

 

Mr. Chrétien left the Office of Prime Minister of Canada on December 12, 2003. In February 2014, Mr. Chrétien joined Dentons Canada LLP as counsel.

 

In 2007, Mr. Chrétien was appointed Companion of the Order of Canada.

 

In 2008, he became co-president of the InterAction Council, an international organization that mobilizes the experience, energy and international networks of former Heads of State and Government. Council members jointly develop recommendations and practical solutions for the political, economic and social problems confronting the global community.

 

In 2009, he was awarded the Order of Merit by Her Majesty Elizabeth II.

 

 

DAI Yuming
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Montreal

 

Mr. DAI Yuming has assumed the position of the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Montreal since December 2022. Since 1992, he worked at different positions in Department of African Affairs, Department of Personnel and Department of Policy Planning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, and served several terms at the Chinese Embassies in Liberia, the United States, Sierra Leone, Namibia, and Israel. He was also Deputy Mayor of Sanya City, Hainan Province, from 2016 to 2019.

 

 

Vincent Joli-Coeur
Chairman, Asia Pacific, National Bank of Canada
and Vice-Chairman, Financial Markets

 

Vincent Joli-Coeur joined National Bank of Canada in 2011 as Vice-Chairman Financial Markets. He is responsible for senior coverage of our corporate, government, and institutional clients.

 

In his career of 30 years in the financial services field, Mr. Joli-Coeur has acted as a trusted advisor to large Canadian and International companies in various industries and has been involved in some of Canada’s largest capital markets and infrastructure financings. Recently, Mr. Joli-Coeur led the team behind National Bank of Canada’s successful inaugural Panda Bond issuance of RMB3.5 billion in the People’s Republic of China, the first issuance of its kind for a North American bank.

 

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Joli-Coeur is also actively involved in his community. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Université de Sherbrooke. He is also involved in several charitable organizations’ financing campaigns.

 

Mr. Joli-Coeur has a Master’s degree in business administration from Université Paris Dauphine in France.

 

 

The Honourable Martin Cauchon, P.C., LL.M., ICD.D, Ad. E.
Special Advisor, Counsel
DS Lawyers Canada LLP
Vice-Chair, Board of Directors
Canada China Business Council

 

Martin Cauchon has had a distinguished career. First elected as a Member of Parliament in October 1993, he has held many positions in the Government of Canada. He has served as Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), Minister of National Revenue, and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. In 2013, he was an official candidate in the leadership race of the Liberal Party of Canada. From 2015 to 2019, he was also a shareholder and Executive Chairman of Groupe Capitales Médias, which gave him a better understanding of the challenges facing the print media in a digital world.

 

Mr. Cauchon’s unparalleled experience in government and the private sector has given him a deep understanding of a wide range of issues. As counsel at DS Lawyers Canada, he advises companies on the various issues facing the knowledge economy and the globalization of markets, taking into account geopolitical factors. Mr. Cauchon also facilitates the creation of partnerships at the provincial, national, and international levels.

 

Having established relationships with several counterparts in China, Martin Cauchon has acquired a good knowledge of that market, which allows him to intervene in projects that are related to the Canada-China relationship.

 

After obtaining a law degree from the University of Ottawa, Mr. Cauchon became a member of the Quebec Bar in 1985 and completed a master degree in International Business Law in 1991, at the University of Exeter, in England. He was the 2004 recipient of the Equality Forum’s International Role Model Award. In 2015, he received the honorary distinction of “Advocatus emeritus” and “Le Mérite” from the Quebec Bar. He is also Vice Chair, Board of Directors of the Canada China Business Council and Chair of its Quebec Chapter Advisory Council. He also serves on the board of directors of several companies.

 

 

Bijan Ahmadi
Executive Director and COO
Canada China Business Council

 

Bijan Ahmadi serves as the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Canada China Business Council (CCBC), overseeing the operations and activities of the Council across its seven chapters in Canada and China.

 

Before joining CCBC, he co-founded and served as the Executive Director of the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy (IPD) from 2018 to 2024. IPD is a non-partisan think tank operating in Canada and the United States, dedicated to fostering constructive engagement and interest-based thinking in international affairs.

 

During his tenure at IPD, Mr. Ahmadi launched the organization’s Asia research program in 2020 and its flagship annual conference, the Indo-Pacific Strategy Forum (IPSF), in Ottawa in 2021. Today, IPSF is recognized as Canada’s premier conference on the country’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. He was also the co-editor of Canada-China Brief, a biweekly policy newsletter providing the latest developments and expert insights on political and economic relations between Ottawa and Beijing.

 

In his work on China, Mr. Ahmadi has advised large corporations and SMEs on navigating Canada-China trade, policy, and regulatory developments. He has also spearheaded the publication of numerous research reports on China and Canada-China relations and led Track 2 diplomacy initiatives in collaboration with Chinese and American research institutions.

 

Mr. Ahmadi holds a Master’s degree in Global Diplomacy from SOAS University of London and a Master of Applied Science from the University of Toronto. Before founding IPD, Mr. Ahmadi worked in strategy and management roles in the financial services and real estate sectors, where he honed his skills in organizational leadership and operational planning. He also served on the executive boards of several Canadian non-profits and NGOs, including the Toronto branch of the Canadian International Council.

 

 

Sarah Kutulakos
Former Executive Director and COO
Canada China Business Council

 

Sarah Kutulakos joined the CCBC in 2007 and revitalized CCBC’s role as Canada’s premier bilateral trade and investment organization. During her tenure, Ms. Kutulakos re-centered the Council’s activities around providing business services, catalyzing business growth and activity, and advocating for stronger Sino-Canadian bilateral trade and investment. This has resulted in extensive public outreach activities, internal infrastructure improvements, the launch of new programs such as the Business Incubation Centre, and thriving member relations.

 

Prior to joining CCBC, Ms. Kutulakos worked for 11 years in marketing, product development, and management with a major multinational corporation, where she had multiple assignments involving China. Ms. Kutulakos managed worldwide product businesses that marketed to China and used China-based sources of supply. She was also involved in several projects requiring cooperation with the Chinese government. Ms. Kutulakos has led both established and start-up businesses within the context of a global corporation and has broad emerging market business experience, and has been involved in the Greater China region since the late 1980s when she lived and worked in Taiwan. There, she was the first non-Chinese employee of a local high-tech start-up firm, where she gained a deep understanding of Chinese business practices.

 

A fluent Mandarin speaker, Ms. Kutulakos’s interest in China began at the University of Wisconsin, where she studied Chinese, marketing, and international business. She holds an MBA in finance and operations from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester. She frequently speaks on China issues, including marketing, trade, investment, and Canada-China relations.