Ms. Wang represents Saint John-based CanLink Global Inc., a company formed over two years ago to drive trade and investment opportunities between Atlantic Canada and various parts of the world.

Ms. Wang is based in the southern China port city of Shenzhen, which last year signed a sister city-relationship agreement with Saint John, a connection that could prove invaluable to the N.B. business community.

The sister relationship is important in China being a state-run country.

Having government (sister city mayors) connections is critical in dealing with both a political agenda and a business agenda, says Mike Tilley, president and founder of CanLink Global.

In a recent interview in Guangzhou, China, Ms. Wang said 14 per cent of China’s GDP comes from the south China region "and there are lots of companies wanting to export products to Atlantic Canada and other parts of the country."

CanLink Global is an organization that will assist Canadians interested in doing business in China and Chinese interested in investing in Canada with a particular concentration on Atlantic Canada, Ms. Wang said.

The Moncton Flight College has made the business case for China. In May the college signed a two-year contract, valued at over $10 million, with Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics to train as many as 150 pilots. If all options are exercised over the multi-year plan, it could result in a value of over $60 million over a five-year period with upwards of 800 pilots.

Mr. Tilley has made over 30 trips to China in the last four years "so I have built up a pretty good network and some knowledge on how to do business with that market" plus, he says, several people within his company have "Chinese experience."

CanLink Global can offer a consultancy and help companies develop a China strategy, a plan of attack for that market, executing in that market and follow-up. The consultancy is very much export orientated for Atlantic companies.

The New Brunswick business also has a global sourcing division, sourcing products, services and raw materials.

Mr. Tilley says Atlantic Canada has a lot "skill sets" it can offer China, such as in aviation, making reference to the Moncton contract.

China has plans to build 48 new airports in the next five years which will present massive training and employment opportunities in the aviation sector.

Chinese companies are definitely interested in breaking into North America, says Mr. Tilley.

With U.S. trade restrictions, some Chinese companies are looking for other routes into those markets.

One possible option is with value-added products produced in Canada and then marketed in the U.S.