ONLINE PROGRAMMING | SEPTEMBER 30 | 8PM – 9PM EST | MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS
China is Canada’s second-largest trading partner and a growing source of investment flows, technological collaboration, and supply chain interdependence. As global economic power shifts and geopolitical tensions evolve, Canada faces the challenge of redefining its economic relationship with China in a way that protects national interests while remaining open to opportunity.
Canada’s economic engagement with China is multifaceted, encompassing not only trade in goods and services but also cross-border investment, industrial collaboration, and supply chain resilience. While China offers access to one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets, the relationship is shaped by an evolving international landscape, where strategic competition, technological decoupling, and economic security are increasingly salient. Key sectors—such as agriculture, clean technology, critical minerals, and telecommunications— highlight both the opportunities and vulnerabilities inherent in deeper engagement. At the same time, both countries are pursuing broader diversification strategies to reduce exposure to geopolitical risk, particularly in relation to the United States. This session provides a timely overview of Canada’s current economic relationship with China, analysing recent trends, policy shifts, and investment patterns. It invites a balanced conversation on how Canada can chart a forward-looking strategy—one that leverages commercial opportunities, safeguards strategic assets, and navigates complex global dynamics with pragmatism and foresight.
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About the Speakers:
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.
Jack Yu (于华洲) is an experienced business lawyer, with a focus on private mergers & acquisitions and cross-border transactions. Jack has advised clients on tens of billions of dollars worth of M&A, private equity, corporate reorganization, and complex commercial transactions, spanning across multiple industries and sectors. He is particularly experienced in acting on complex cross-border M&A deals for U.S. and global firms doing business or expanding in Canada.
As Co-Leader of the firm’s China Practice Group, Jack regularly travels to China and is actively involved in the Asian legal community in Canada. He is often relied on by Chinese clients both from overseas and in Canada for sophisticated transactions and day-to-day legal issues. Jack also has experience in the foreign investments review process in Canada.
Prior to attending law school, Jack earned an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and philosophy from the University of Toronto. He is on the Board of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL), Ontario Chapter, and the Canada China Business Council.
Born and raised in Jinan, Shandong, Jack is fluent in Mandarin.
This session is part of the Canada China Forum’s Masterclass Series, a three month-long initiative offering a deep dive into China’s economic, political and social structures, including key issues shaping China and the bilateral relationship.