Following Canada’s recent federal election, CCBC hosted an insightful panel discussion in Vancouver on April 30, 2025, exploring the future of Canada-China economic relations. The event brought together leading experts in international trade and business to examine the evolving commercial landscape and its implications for Canadian companies. We were pleased to welcome three distinguished speakers: Stewart Beck, former diplomat and Past President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; Jing LI, Professor of International Business and Director of the Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies at the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University; and Jia WANG, Senior Fellow and Senior Advisor at the China Institute, University of Alberta.

 

>> Click here to see more photos
Photos courtesy Monica Chen

 

In a time of global market shifts and heightened economic uncertainty, the panel emphasized the growing importance of diversification for Canadian businesses. China, as one of the world’s largest and fastest-evolving markets, continues to present significant opportunities for growth, investment, and market expansion. Speakers shared their perspectives on policy changes, trade opportunities, and practical strategies for businesses looking to strengthen or re-engage with the Chinese market. Attendees gained valuable insights into how post-election policy directions may shape Canada’s commercial relationship with China and why China remains an essential consideration in a global diversification strategy.

 

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

 

Address: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), Waterfront Centre, 200 Burrard Street, Suite 1200, Vancouver, BC, V7X 1T2

 

Sponsor Remarks from:

 

Sean Muggah
Partner
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)

 

Sean Muggah represents and advises clients on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, with a particular focus on highly regulated industries and sectors. He has extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions, disposition and acquisition of businesses on behalf of Canadian, U.S. and international companies, cross-border transactions, corporate reorganizations, joint ventures and partnership agreements in a wide variety of industries.

 

His practice spans a variety of sectors, including infrastructure and energy projects, and power and electricity. He advises financial institutions (including credit unions, trust companies and insurance companies) on regulatory and other corporate/commercial matters. Mr. Muggah also has extensive experience advising clients in the education and not-for-profit sectors.

 

From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Muggah was foreign counsel with the law firm of Nishimura & Partners (now Nishimura & Asahi) in Tokyo, Japan, where his practice focused on cross-border commercial transactions.

 

Within BLG, Mr. Muggah is the Regional Manager of our Corporate Commercial and Securities and Capital Markets Groups. Sean provides legal services through a Law Corporation.

 

About the Speakers:

 

Stewart Beck
Former diplomat
Past President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

 

With four decades as a diplomat, trade commissioner, and policy expert, Stewart Beck has championed Canada’s interests across Asia and the United States. As former President of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, he built networks connecting key stakeholders throughout the region. His diplomatic career includes serving as Canada’s High Commissioner to India and Consul General in Shanghai and San Francisco, establishing him as a leading expert on Asia-Pacific relations. This experience, coupled with his innovation policy knowledge and relationships with decision-makers across Canada and Asia, uniquely positions him to provide insights on Asia’s importance to Canada’s strategic interests and economic security.

 

 

Jing LI
Professor, International Business
Director, Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies
Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University

 

Jing LI (PhD, Indiana University) is a Professor of International Business at the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University, where she serves as the director of the Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies. Her research focuses on international investment strategies of firms, doing business in emerging markets, state-owned enterprises, and the intersection of geopolitics, public policies, and firm strategies. She has published over forty articles in leading management and international business journals. She is equally passionate about teaching and engaging in activities that promote dialogue and collaboration among researchers, business leaders, and policymakers.

 

 

Jia WANG
Senior Fellow and Senior Advisor
China Institute, University of Alberta

 

Jia WANG is the Senior Advisor and Senior Fellow of the China Institute at the University of Alberta. She has led the policy research think tank as the Interim Director (2021-2023) and Deputy Director and managed research, programs, and government and media relations since 2011. Ms. Wang is also a senior fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and a member of the Canada-US Commission on China convened by Wilson Centre in Washington D.C.

 

Ms. Wang has over 18 years of direct management experience focusing on the economic and political dimensions of contemporary China and Canada-China relations in various capacities. At the China Institute, in addition to overseeing the operations, she led policy research initiatives examining Canada’s diplomatic, trade, investment and energy linkages with China. She also provides strategic and policy advice on China to University senior leaders as well as executives at public and private sector organizations. Ms. Wang is a frequent media commentator, speaker and moderator at international, national and community events.

 

Before joining the China Institute, Ms. Wang worked as a television news reporter, anchor and producer covering major political, business and cultural affairs for OMNI TV network from 2008 to early 2011. She also served as a business consultant for Enbridge Pipelines Inc. and as a conference interpreter for various business, government and higher education institutions at executive-level meetings and major conferences.

 

Ms. Wang holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours) from Peking University and pursued doctoral studies at the University of Toronto. She has written columns for the largest Chinese newspaper and taught business communication and cultural etiquette in Canada.

 

Born and raised in Beijing and lived for two decades in Canada, Ms. Wang is fully bilingual (Chinese and English) and bicultural. She serves on the Boards of Directors for Early Music Society of BC of for Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Winspear Centre for Music and is an Advisory Board Member for the Canada China Forum. An avid animal and nature lover, she supports animal rescue and nature conservation efforts around the world and enjoys hiking in the majestic Canadian Rockies every summer.

 

 

Lotta Ygartua
Regional Director, Western Canada
Canada China Business Council

 

As Regional Director of Western Canada, Lotta Ygartua is responsible for building the CCBC membership base throughout the region by connecting Canadian and Chinese businesses, promoting Canada-China bilateral trade, organizing events and supporting the delivery of member services. Ms. Ygartua has over 10 years of marketing experience in the technology, marketing research, communications and art sectors. Prior to joining CCBC, she was Marketing Manager at the China-Britain Business Council based in the UK, promoting trade and business with China and organizing high-calibre events involving the Chinese Premier and the Prime Minister of Great Britain.

 

Ms. Ygartua spent several years living in China, where she studied and worked for a local company that developed products for the Chinese market. Ms. Ygartua studied Mandarin at the University of Nanjing and Nanjing Normal University. She holds a BA in Chinese and BSc in Social and Economic Geography from Uppsala University, Sweden.