British Columbia's (B.C.) role as Canada's Pacific Gateway was strengthened during Premier Gordon Campbell's mission to Asia, with an agreement signed between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and China Southern Airlines that will see the first direct flights between Vancouver and Guangzhou starting July 2009.

"The Province has been at the forefront of efforts to establish direct flights between B.C. and Guangdong," said Premier Campbell, in a news release. "This agreement strengthens B.C.'s position as Canada's Pacific Gateway and supports increased cultural and business connections between B.C. and our sister province in China."

Officials signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during a bilateral meeting on Nov. 29, confirming the commencement of the first direct flights between Vancouver and Guangzhou in 2009. Premier Campbell is also meeting with China Eastern Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways during his trade mission to discuss expanding transportation links between China and B.C.

"Currently, citizens of Guangdong must travel either to Shanghai or Beijing to take advantage of air services to Vancouver, or alternatively transit through Hong Kong," said Tony Gugliotta, Vancouver Airport Authority's senior vice-president of marketing and commercial development, in the release. "Direct air service will allow greater ease and comfort for the many travelers moving between our two provinces."

British Columbia's Pacific Gateway Strategy targets 75 per cent growth in passengers traveling through Vancouver International Airport and a doubling of air cargo handled at YVR by 2020.

China is B.C.'s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade of more than C$10 billion in 2006. China is also the top source of immigrants to B.C., with close to 11,000 immigrants settling in B.C. in 2006. Guangdong and British Columbia have been sister provinces since 1995.