On Thursday, January 25, 2024, CCBC hosted an exclusive Lunar New Year cocktail reception at Gowling WLG in Toronto, unveiling the findings of the Canada-China Business Survey 2022/2023. In collaboration with the Rotman Institute for International Business, CCBC conducts this biennial survey to delve into the perspectives and interests within the Canada-China business community. Sarah Kutulakos, Executive Director and COO of CCBC, highlighted key report insights, leading into an engaging panel discussion featuring Walid Hejazi, Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at the Rotman School of Management; LIU Linlin, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto; and Peter Zhang, Partner at Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP. The event provided valuable insights into the sentiments of Canadian and Chinese companies regarding bilateral business, trade, and investment.

 

Distinguished guests included Mr. LUO Weidong, Consul General of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto, who delivered guest remarks, and Thomas J. Timmins, Partner at Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, as well as YANG Yang, Head of China & Southeast Asia Strategy, Director, Capital Markets, CIBC, both of whom also gave 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!

 

Click here to see more photos.

 

 

Venue:
Gowling WLG
1 First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West, Suite 1600
Toronto, Ontario

 

Special Guest Remarks:

 

LUO Weidong
Consul General
Chinese Consulate General in Toronto

 

Mr. LUO Weidong was born in December 1967 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree.

 

He began his career in 1990 in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is now the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.

 

He assumed his role as Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto in September 2023.

 

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.

 

 

LIU Linlin
Consul (Counselor, Economic and Trade)
Chinese Consulate General in Toronto

 

Mr. LIU Linlin was born in October 1965, and holds a Master of Business Economics and Finance Degree.

 

He began his career in 1988 in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is now the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.

 

He assumed his role in August 2022, serving as a Counselor-level Consul responsible for economic and trade affairs in the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto.

 

 

Walid Hejazi
Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

 

Walid Hejazi is a Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He is Academic Director of Rotman Executive Programs, a Fellow of the Michael Lee-Chin Family Institute for Corporate Citizenship, and member of the Board of Directors of the David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation. He is also academic director of the University of Toronto’s ESG Designation program, the first of its kind in Canada. He has traveled extensively to China, working with executives on better understanding global innovation and business strategies. He teaches in Rotman’s MBA, EMBA and custom executive programs, and has also delivered lectures in over 30 countries. In addition to his academic publications, he has also published op-eds in the Globe and Mail, the Financial Post, the Toronto Star, the Hill Times, and the Conversation. He is regularly quoted in the media on a wide range of business and economic issues, and has testified extensively before parliamentary and senate committees.

 

 

YANG Yang
Head of China & Southeast Asia Strategy, Director, ASG, Capital Markets
CIBC

 

Yang is a seasoned professional with over 16 years of extensive experience in the banking industry. She currently serves as the Director of CIBC Capital Market, the Head of China and South East Asia Market Strategy.

 

Yang holds an EMBA degree from Queen’s University Smith School of Business, showcasing her commitment to continuous learning and professional development. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Carleton University, demonstrating her solid academic foundation.

 

In addition to her corporate responsibilities, Yang has been actively engaged in community service for over 20 years. She is the Vice President of Scarborough York Region Chinese Business Association and the Consultant of Chinese Community Association of Ottawa. With her community volunteer experience, Yang is dedicated to making a positive impact on the communities she services.

 

 

Thomas J. Timmins
Partner
Gowling WLG

 

Tom is a senior partner serving clients in renewable energy project development and finance. He leads Gowling WLG Canada’s China Practice.

 

 

Peter Zhang
Partner
Gowling WLG

 

Peter Zhang (Dongcheng) is a partner at Gowling WLG, where he leads the firm’s China Initiative for the Toronto office. Admitted to practice law in Canada and China, Peter’s main areas of expertise include corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and foreign direct investment.

 

Peter regularly assists clients in launching new businesses and making acquisitions in Canada and China. He holds special experience in co-ordinating legal teams composed of lawyers from different practices to resolve complicated legal disputes in Canada

 

Peter started as an in-house legal counsel in a large joint venture in Shenzhen, and spent 10 years working as an investment banker at tier-one investment banking and research institutions in China. Prior to joining Gowling WLG, he was a partner of King & Wood Mallesons based in Shenzhen, China.

 

Peter graduated from the Law School of Jilin University with L.L.M. degree in 1994 and the Law School of University of Toronto with L.L.M. degree in 2016.

 

 

Jeff Zhang
Regional Director, Central Canada
Canada China Business Council

 

Jeff has over 20 years of international experience in private, public and non-profit organizations in a variety of sectors including E-commerce, oil and gas, retail, commercial real estate, education and financial services. Prior to joining CCBC, Jeff worked in establishment and operation management at a Sino-Foreign joint venture company and in strategic partnership management at a Fortune 500 multinational company. He also led and assisted a number of Canadian companies and educational institutions into China where he was responsible for strategic partnerships and branding establishment.

 

Jeff has an MBA in marketing and international business from Concordia University in Montreal and is fluent in Mandarin and English. He has also been a guest speaker at professional business associations in China and Canada.