CCBC held a Lunar New Year cocktail reception on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, in Vancouver at Bennett Jones LLP. Over 80 CCBC members and guests gathered for the occasion. The event provided a unique opportunity to explore insights gathered from CCBC’s Canada-China Business Survey 2022/2023, following the official report launch in Toronto on January 25. Conducted in collaboration with the Rotman Institute for International Business, this biennial survey examines the perspectives and interests within the Canada-China business community. Sarah Kutulakos, CCBC Executive Director and COO, shared report highlights, and attendees heard insights on the past sentiments of both Canadian and Chinese companies, exploring the intricacies of their experiences and attitudes towards bilateral business, trade, and investment.

The occasion was honoured by Mr. YANG Shu, Consul General of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Vancouver, providing guest remarks. Victor Tsao, Partner, Trademark Agent, Bennett Jones LLP, also shared remarks.

The networking cocktail reception featured a premium Chinese liquor courtesy of Langjiu and included various lucky draws for exciting prizes, creating a festive atmosphere in celebration of Lunar New Year. Congratulations to our lucky draw winners!

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Venue:
Bennett Jones LLP
666 Burrard St #2500
Vancouver, BC
V6C 2X8

Special Guest Remarks:

YANG Shu
Consul General
Chinese Consulate General in Vancouver

Mr. YANG Shu, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Vancouver, assumed his duties on September 21, 2022.

From 2020 to 2022, he was the deputy head of the International Relations Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. He was also formerly the Deputy Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Denpasar and the Executive Deputy Director General of the Consular Assistance and Protection Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

After graduating from university, Mr. YANG Shu worked in the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and has been engaged in consular affairs for many years. He has rich diplomatic and consular work experience, and has previously worked in Chinese diplomatic missions abroad, specifically South Africa and Indonesia.

About the Speakers:

Sarah Kutulakos
Executive Director & COO
Canada China Business Council

Sarah joined the CCBC in 2007 and has since revitalized CCBC’s role as Canada’s premier bilateral trade and investment organization. Sarah has 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, Sarah worked for 11 years in marketing, product development, and management with a major multinational corporation, where she had multiple assignments involving China. Sarah 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. Sarah 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, Sarah’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.

Victor Tsao
Partner, Trademark Agent
Bennett Jones LLP

Victor Tsao practices corporate law with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, real estate development, cross-border transactions, financing, technology and entertainment law. He is also a registered trademark agent and a member of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada.

With years of experience in the Asia Pacific market, Victor provides strategic advice to Canadian, Chinese and Japanese clients as they do business throughout the region and beyond. This includes entering new markets, corporate financing, developing their businesses and cross-border transactions.

Prior to joining Bennett Jones, Victor was the managing partner of the Vancouver office of a global law firm.

Victor is fluent in English, Chinese and Japanese.