Ballard Power Systems, a clean energy company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, hosted the Party Secretary of China’s Guangdong Province, Hu Chunhua and his delegation, at the company’s headquarters facility last week.

Teresa Wat, British Columbia Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism was also present.

This was Hu’s first ever visit to Canada and the first by any Guangdong Province Party Secretary in more than 50 years. Hu discussed international trade opportunities with Ballard executives and took part in a fuel cell-powered transit bus demonstration.

“The decision to spend time at Ballard is a strong indication of the importance Guangdong Province places on fuel cell technology,” said Randy MacEwen, Ballard’s president and CEO. “We also signed a non-binding letter of intent for the potential transfer of fuel cell technology and the manufacture of fuel cell products in Guangdong Province. These events demonstrate that our corporate growth strategy in the China market is gaining traction.”

“British Columbia is continually working to expand and diversify its trade relationship with key markets in Asia, and our relationship with Guangdong is one of our strongest,” said Wat. “We have trade and investment experts on the ground in Guangdong who played a key role in bringing this delegation to British Columbia and facilitating these business-to-business deals. As China moves towards a low carbon economy, fuel cells are an excellent example of the new opportunities available to both Provinces in the trade of clean technology.”

Guangdong Province – the most populace province in China with more than 100 million people – includes the cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen and accounts for more than 25 percent of China’s foreign trade. Guangdong Province is investing in clean energy mass transit solutions to help address the environmental objectives of China’s thirteenth five-year plan, including improved air quality.