To promote cross-cultural exchange between Xiamen, Fujian province and Halifax, Canada, a delegation from Saint Mary's University visited the Foreign and overseas Chinese affairs office of the Xiamen municipal government on April 7.
Li Xiaoping, director of the offic,e told the guests that XiamenAir will launch a direct flight between Xiamen and Vancouver on July 25. Therefore he hoped Canada will open a visa office in Xiamen, bringing more exchanges and cooperation in economy, education and tourism between Xiamen and Canadian cities.
Robert Summerby-Murray, president of Saint Mary's University, said that both Halifax and Xiamen are port cities, so the two cities can carry out cooperation in ocean trade in particular.
Li also invited Halifax’s delegation to attend the 2016 China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen this September. The delegation was also invited to attend the 95th anniversary of Xiamen University this month.
Halifax, the site of Saint Mary's University, is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is considered a global city and is a major economic center in Atlantic Canada with a large concentration of government services and private sector companies.
Saint Mary's University, established in 1802, is the second oldest English-speaking and first Roman Catholic initiated university in Canada.
In November, 2010, Saint Mary's University and Xiamen University jointly built a Confucius Institute.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
