Canada-China Symposium on Social Inclusion and Economic Development

 Professor Hao Shiyuan is delivering keynote speech

 Mr Gao Qianli, Depute President of CASS(Vice Minister)

 Mr. Robert Wright; Ambassador of Canada to China

 Ms. Susan Scotti; Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Social Development Canada  

 Mr Zhou Minfu, Former Vice Minister of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission

 Mr. Gao Qianli, Depute President of CASS, is meeting with Mr. Robert Wright; Ambassador of Canada to China

 Closing ceremony and conference summay

 Photo of organizing committee with Ambassador Robert Wright.

 Canada- China Symposium on Social Inclusion and Economic Development:
Improving Mutual Understanding and Forging Future Collaborations


Canada-China symposium on Social Inclusion and Economic Development，has held successfully on December 12-14, 2006 in Beijing, China. The objective of this symposium was to enhance the mutual understanding between Canadian and Chinese policy researchers on social and economic issues in order to explore potential for further dialogue.

This event was jointly organized by Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (IEA/CASS) and the Policy Research Initiative (PRI) Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, and the Organizing Committee for the 16th International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (ICAES 2008). It was funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The symposium was opened by senior officials from both Canada and China including Mr. Robert Wright; Ambassador of Canada to China, Ms. Susan Scotti; Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Mr. Gao Quan-li; Vice President, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Mr. Zhou Ming-fu, Executive Deputy Chair, Organizing Committee for the 16th International Congress of Anthropology and Ethnological Sciences in 2008. Minister Phil Calvert of the Canadian Embassy hosted the farewell reception with remarks from Ms. Scotti. Senior officials from China and Canada recognized the timeliness and the importance of this event, and expressed the need to further this dialogue after the symposium.

Dr. Jean Kunz (PRI) and Professor Du Fachun (IEA/CASS) were the principal organizers. Ms. Wang Li, Academic Relations Officer and Ms. Rachael Bedlington, Head of Public Affairs Section at the Canadian Embassy offered valuable counsel ensuring the success of the event.

Over 70 individuals participated in this 2-day symposium, 23 of which came from Canada. A plenary session was devoted to issues on the challenges of social inclusion in multi-ethnic societies based upon evidences from China and Canada with speeches by Mr. Hao Shi-yuan, member of CASS and Director of IEA/CASS, Professor Peter Li, University of Saskatchewan, and Professor Don DeVoretz, Simon Fraser University.

There were eleven workshop sessions that covered a wide range of topics that were highly relevant for both countries including ethno-cultural diversity, aboriginal conditions, integration of migrants, social inclusion, poverty reduction, trade and investment, and environmental protection.