On June 22, 2011, Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao met with Premier of Quebec Charest in Montreal, Canada.

Song said China's Consulate General in Montreal will be opened soon. He thanked the government of Quebec for its strong support and assistance for the opening of the Consulate General. The province of Quebec boasts developed economy, advanced science and technology and occupies an important position in China-Canada mutually beneficial cooperation. In recent years, bilateral exchanges have been close and both sides have conducted fruitful cooperation in economy, trade, education, science and technology. China is ready to take the opening of China's Consulate General in Montreal as an opportunity to further promote bilateral personnel exchanges, expand trade and investment scale and explore cooperation on energy resources, infrastructure construction, environmental protection and high technology. He also urged both sides to enhance contacts on culture, education and tourism so as to make positive contributions to pushing forward China-Canada strategic partnership.

Charest expressed warm congratulations on the opening of China's Consulate General in Montreal. He said the government of Quebec attaches great importance to developing ties with China and will take promoting trade cooperation with China as a priority of its external work. As the province of Quebec is currently implementing the Plan Nord and making efforts to promote economic modernization and trade diversification, it is ready to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation with China. The province of Quebec, with its abundant resource products and high-quality educational resources, is ready to continuously expand exports to China and welcomes investment from Chinese companies. Meanwhile Quebec would like to attract more Chinese students to study there. The province of Quebec is delighted with the sound growth momentum of bilateral ties in recent years and is willing to play a positive role in developing bilateral ties, he added.