THE Canada China Business Council unveiled its Canada Center yesterday in Shanghai to promote bilateral trade and investment.

"Canadian businesses have shown growing interest in the Chinese market, especially the Yangtze River Delta region - a powerful and dynamic engine of China's growth," said CCBC President Peter Harder.

"The establishment of the center aims to strengthen communications between Canadian companies and their Chinese counterparts, and boost bilateral trade and investment," Harder said.

The center's opening came shortly after Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's first visit to China earlier this month when he called on both countries to further boost trade and investment to combat the global economic downturn.

The center - a showroom of Canadian products and services and a resource for Canadian business in China - is located on the 10th floor of ShanghaiMart which is within the Hongqiao area, a core part of the city's construction into a global trade center. It is the only one on the Chinese mainland.

Harper also said Canada will open four new trade offices in China that will boost support for even more commercial links in exports, investment and innovation between the two countries.